Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONLINE INFORMATION CENTERS 
DURING NATIONAL CALAMITIES AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Information dissemination is an essential part of disaster risk reduction and management. The 
capacity to disseminate accurate information about an incoming typhoon or a national emergency 
allows people to prepare necessities and evacuate high-risk areas, effectively reducing their 
exposure to hazards. As more and more people rely on their handheld devices for accurate 
information regarding natural hazards and other emergencies, it is only apt that the State ensure 
that people can easily access all pertinent data concerning a specific disaster.  
This measure provides for the creation of an Online Information Center for a specific disaster or 
national emergency, in the form of a website with a “.gov.ph” domain, which shall contain all 
relevant information concerning a disaster or national emergency. This shall include official 
sources of updates, news, and information; a directory of government offices and emergency 
hotlines; and information on all government assistance programs, subsidies, grants, and other 
social protection measures available to affected families, among others.  Online Information 
Centers shall be created by the Philippine Information Agency and may be adopted by local 
government units for local disasters, calamities, or emergencies.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 14, 2022
8:18 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONLINE INFORMATION CENTERS 
DURING NATIONAL CALAMITIES AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Online Information Center during 
Disasters or Emergencies Act." 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the vital role of communication and 
information in nation-building. In the Bill of Rights, the right of the people to information on 
matters of public concern is likewise protected and ensured. The importance of this right to 
information is further magnified in times of disasters and other emergencies, given the fact that 
the members of the public can be easily led into chaos, panic, and unrest by the difficulty of the 
attending conditions and circumstances and the unfortunate proliferation of misinformation and 
fake news. In response to this, the government shall endeavor to foster transparency and the 
effective and widespread dissemination of true and accurate information on matters of public 
concern to the people. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows: 
a.
''Disaster" – a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which
exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its resources.
Disasters are often described as a result of the combination of exposure to a hazard;
the conditions of vulnerability that are present; and insufficient capacity or measures to
reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences, Disaster impacts may include
loss of life, injury, disease, and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and
social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of
services, Social and economic disruption and environmental degradation;
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b. 
''Emergency" – unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, demanding 
immediate action; 
 
c. 
''The State of Calamity" – a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to 
property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads, and normal way of life of people in 
the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of a natural or human-induced hazard. 
Section 4. Scope of Application. – This Act shall cover disasters or other kinds of emergencies 
that are national in scope, as declared through a State of Calamity or State of National Emergency 
by the President of the Philippines. For disasters or emergencies not national in scope, but 
affecting two or more provinces or an entire region, this Act may apply at the discretion of the 
implementing agency in consideration of the gravity of the prevailing conditions and 
circumstances.  
Section 5. Creation of Online Information Center during Disasters and Other National 
Emergencies Act. – Within seven (7) days from a declaration of a calamity or national 
emergency covered by Section 4 of this Act, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall set up 
and make available for public access an Online Information Center for that specific disaster or 
national emergency. This Online Information Center shall be in the form of a website with a 
“.gov.ph” domain. The contents of the Online Information Center created under this Act shall be 
the following: 
a. 
Websites, social media accounts/pages, and other online locations of official news and 
information sources; 
 
b. 
Official government directory and emergency hotlines; 
 
c. 
Official data, statistics, and other information on the disaster or emergency; 
 
d. 
Information and education campaign materials and explainers on the disaster or 
emergency concerned; 
 
e. 
Database of all relevant laws, government issuances, and ordinances about the disaster 
or emergency concerned; 
 
f. 
Information on all government assistance programs, subsidies, grants, and other social 
protection measures available to affected families; 
 
g. 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page; 
 
h. 
Procedures, hotlines, and forms for reporting grievances, complaints, misinformation, 
and other violations of laws and regulations; and 
 
i. 
Other content and information that the PIA deems appropriate to include. 
Section 6. Adoption by Local Government Units. – For disasters or emergencies which are 
only provincial, city, or municipal in scope, the local government unit concerned may, at its 
discretion, adopt the standards and guidelines set forth under this Act and its implementing rules 


and regulations. The PIA shall assist and provide technical expertise, training, personnel, and/or 
resources to the local government unit concerned.  
Section 7. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations of the PIA for the year following its enactment 
into law and thereafter.  
Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the PIA, in consultation with the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 
(NDRRMC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other relevant government 
agencies, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.  
Section 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules, and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
Section 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act, or the application thereof 
to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act shall 
not be affected thereby.  
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication 
in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,