REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and 
 HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure seeks to establish Information and Technology Communications 
(ICT) hubs, in accordance with a National ICT Roadmap and IT Plan, in all 
provinces throughout the country to foster economic growth and development. The 
said ICT Plan shall assess the needs of every province in the country and identify 
the appropriate types and number of ICT hubs to be developed therein. It shall also 
provide incentives to encourage the private sector in the creation of ICT hubs. The 
rationale behind such measure is to minimize if not eliminate the so-called “digital 
divide” in provinces and establish a unified link, through the employment of ICT, 
that will greatly adhere in nation-building. 
ICT is an unequivocal tool in the development of a modern society. It impacts 
various aspects of life such as education, health, finance, communication, 
governance, and public participation. As such, making each province digitally 
August 11, 2025
2:04 pm
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connected into a unified system will provide easy access and hasty links that will 
foster economic growth. Moreover, the establishment of ICT hubs in provinces shall 
further boost their respective marketing potentials thus attracting both local and 
foreign investors. 
In adherence with Section 24, Section 11 of the fundamental law that the State 
recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building, it is 
in pursuance of this policy that the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought. 
     RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III 
LANI MERCADO-REVILLA 
BRYAN B. REVILLA 


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and 
 HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
AN ACT 
 ESTABLISHING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
 TECHNOLOGY (ICT) HUBS NATIONWIDE 
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 Network 
1 
Philippines Act”. 
2 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
3 
to recognize the vital role of communication and information in nation-building. It 
4 
shall promote and encourage investment in the countryside by providing the 
5 
infrastructures necessary for the growth of information and communications 
6 
technology, as well as ensuring the adequate supply of power and electricity in 
7 
supporting the development thereof. 
8 
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Towards this end, the State shall encourage the expansion of Information and 
1 
Communications Technology (ICT) throughout the country to facilitate access of 
2 
goods and services and services in accordance with National ICT Roadmap. 
3 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following shall mean: 
4 
(a) Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted over a 
5 
network connection over a period of time; 
6 
(b) Broadband refers to a high-capacity transmission technique using a wide 
7 
range of frequencies which enables a large number of messages to be 
8 
communicated simultaneously. In the context of internet access, it refers to 
9 
access that is continuing and unhindered, and faster than the traditional 
10 
dial-up mode; 
11 
(c) Broadband Network refers to a network able to transmit signals with a 
12 
high bit rate and a transmission channel being equal to or greater than two 
13 
megabits per second (2 mbps); 
14 
(d) Committed Information Rate refers to the Information rate guaranteed by 
15 
a public telecommunications entity (PTE). The bandwidth cannot fall 
16 
below the committed rate of ninety-eight point five percent (98.5%) of the 
17 
time; 
18 
(e) Cyber Skills Learning Hub or Digital Transformation Center refers to a 
19 
facility specifically designed for cyber-education and digital literacy, and 
20 
that which provides knowledge, skills, theoretical and practical 
21 
experiences, and access to technologies for all learners to become 
22 
information and technology proficient; 
23 
(f) Data Farm refers to a physical facility that houses servers, network 
24 
equipment, personnel like Information Technology specialists and network 
25 
technicians for business-critical support such as online data storage, data 
26 


processing, core computing services, data and application backup services, 
1 
and distributing large amounts of data from remote data facilities. The 
2 
operation and management thereof shall be subject to pertinent laws and 
3 
policies on data security to prevent, detect and intercept unauthorized 
4 
access of data, especially on matters of national security; 
5 
(g) Digital Innovation Hub refers to a specialized business Incubation and 
6 
acceleration facility offering physical workspace, mentoring and coaching, 
7 
and devices for technical application testing or experimenting, and 
8 
training. It is a one-stop-shop, usually but not always affiliated with 
9 
educational Institutions, that helps companies including start-ups to 
10 
become more competitive with regard to their business production 
11 
processes, products or services using digital technologies by providing 
12 
access to the latest knowledge, expertise and technology to support them; 
13 
(h) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) refers to the totality 
14 
of electronic means to access, create, collect, store, process, receive, 
15 
transmit, present, and disseminate information; 
16 
(i) Information and Communications Technology Hub (ICT Hub) refers to 
17 
a location where ICT services may be provided by a PTE with at least the 
18 
minimum internet speed required by the National Telecommunications 
19 
Commission (NTC). Such services may include telecommunications 
20 
services, broadband and convergence services, business processing and 
21 
data management; 
22 
(j) Information Technology and Business Processing Management Hub 
23 
refers to a location that caters to and offers support mechanisms for 
24 
companies and enterprises engaged in information technology (IT) 
25 
services and business process management and operations; and 
26 


(k) Public Telecommunications Entity (PTE) refers to any person, natural or 
1 
juridical, government or private engaged in the provision of 
2 
telecommunications services to the public for compensation. 
3 
SEC. 4. Establishment of Information and Communications Technology 
4 
Hubs. —  There shall be established ICT hubs all over the country in accordance 
5 
with a National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Plan to be 
6 
prepared by the Department Information and Communications Technology (DICT). 
7 
The ICT Plan shall assess the needs of every province in the country and 
8 
identify the appropriate types and the number of ICT hubs to be developed therein. 
9 
Every province shall have at least one (1) of the following classifications of ICT 
10 
hubs based on the type of activity that it hosts: 
11 
(a) Data Farms; 
12 
(b) Information Technology (IT) and Business Processing Management 
13 
(BPM) Hub; 
14 
(c) Cyber Skills Learning Hub and Digital Transformation Center (DTC); 
15 
d. Digital Innovation Hub; and 
16 
(d) Any other ICT hub that may arise in the future. 
17 
Pursuant to the ICT Plan and the national, provincial, city, or municipal spatial 
18 
development plans, the DICT and the local government units (LGUs) shall identify 
19 
the areas where the ICT hubs shall be established based on geographical area and 
20 
population: Provided, That the ICT hubs shall be developed in geographically 
21 
equitable and accessible locations throughout the province: Provided further, That 
22 
the area or site of an ICT hub shall be on a property owned by an LGU. 
23 


Provided finally, That the private sector shall be encouraged to establish ICT 
1 
hubs in accordance with the standards set forth by the DICT. The DICT shall employ 
2 
the latest and emerging technologies available to serve commercially unviable areas. 
3 
SEC. 5. Role of the Department of Information and Communications 
4 
Technology (DICT). — The DICT shall formulate a National ICT Plan, based on the 
5 
National ICT Roadmap, which shall include the development of a national 
6 
broadband network, provision of incentives to encourage private sector participation 
7 
and promotion of competition. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating 
8 
Center of the DICT shall formulate, oversee and validate the ICT cyber plan of the 
9 
ICT hubs. The DICT shall update the National ICT Plan and shall submit the same 
10 
on or before the 15th of April of every year to the Office of President of the Republic 
11 
of the Philippines, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and 
12 
the ICT Joint Congressional Oversight Committee established under this Act. 
13 
SEC. 6. ICT Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. — An ICT Joint 
14 
Congressional Oversight Committee (ICTJCOC) is hereby created to monitor the 
15 
effective implementation of this Act, recommend the necessary remedial legislative 
16 
or administrative measures and perform such other duties and functions as may be 
17 
necessary to attain the objectives of this Act. It shall be composed of the 
18 
Chairpersons of the House Committee on Information and Communications 
19 
Technology and Senate Committee on Science and Technology and two (2) members 
20 
each from the Senate and the House of Representatives who shall be designated by 
21 
the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively: 
22 
Provided, That one (1) member from each House shall be nominated by their 
23 
respective Minority Leaders. 
24 
The Chairpersons of the House Committee on Information and 
25 
Communications Technology and the Senate Committee on Science and Technology 
26 


shall serve as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson or vice versa of the ICTJCOC on 
1 
rotational basis every six (6) months. The Secretariat of the ICTJCOC shall be the 
2 
existing secretariat personnel of the concerned Committees of the House of 
3 
Representatives and the Senate. 
4 
 
SEC. 7. Role of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). — 
5 
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), through the exercise of its 
6 
quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers, shall be the primary infrastructure 
7 
regulator to ensure the regular monitoring and proper Implementation of this Act. 
8 
The NTC shall approve the proposed ICT hub telecommunications projects through 
9 
an administrative process prescribed for the purpose and shall ensure the compliance 
10 
of PTEs with the required and committed information rate and quality of service. All 
11 
PTEs shall regularly submit the necessary data and reports as required by the NTC. 
12 
 
SEC. 8. Incentives. — Any registered business enterprise in the ICT hub may 
13 
be granted incentives provided under Title XIII of the National Internal Revenue 
14 
Code of 1997, as amended: Provided, That these incentives shall be granted in 
15 
addition to the incentives given by the LCD where such ICT hubs are located. The 
16 
eligibility of the ICT hubs for the incentives provided herein should be within the 
17 
boundaries of a performance-based, time-bound, and transparent system of 
18 
incentives tailor-fit for highly desirable ICT Investments and shall be subject to 
19 
compliance monitoring by the Fiscal Incentives and Review Board and the LGU 
20 
where such ICT hubs are located. 
21 
 
SEC. 9. Advisory Committee. — There is hereby created an Advisory 
22 
Committee that shall solicit inputs towards the shaping of policy directions of the 
23 
National ICT Plan, including the supervision of ICT hubs and the coordination to be 
24 
undertaken with the private sector and other agencies and instrumentalities of the 
25 
government. 
26 


The DICT shall determine the composition of the Advisory Committee and 
1 
ensure the equal representation of the (a) government, (b) the service providers, (c) 
2 
the end users, and (d) other Industry stakeholders. 
3 
SEC. 10. Digital Skills Development. — The DICT, together with the 
4 
Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and 
5 
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), shall establish 
6 
a program on digital skills development for all learners to enhance their 
7 
competitiveness, adaptability and employability in the emerging digital economy, 
8 
which shall be integrated into the pertinent programs of the ICT hubs. 
9 
SEC. 11. Digital Network Infrastructure. — A digital network infrastructure 
10 
shall be established to connect the local ICT hubs to the National Broadband 
11 
Program through a core backbone network of the DICT, to be funded from the 
12 
spectrum users' fees. The DICT is hereby authorized to classify the said funds for 
13 
capital outlay, which classification shall be furnished to and duly reflected by the 
14 
Department of Budget and Management in its records. The release of funds shall be 
15 
subject to applicable laws and existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and 
16 
regulations. 
17 
SEC. 12. Local Government Responsibility. — The issuance of licenses and 
18 
permits for ICT-related activities and infrastructure construction projects shall not 
19 
be delayed and hampered, and shall further be prioritized, subject to the provisions 
20 
of Republic Act No. 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and 
21 
Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. The Department of the Interior 
22 
and Local Government (DILG) shall include ICT competitiveness and ICT 
23 
Integration as a criterion of governance under the Seal of Good Local Governance 
24 
program. 
25 


SEC. 13. Private Sector Support and Public-Private Partnership. — The 
1 
LGUs may engage the private sector through PPP agreements targeted towards 
2 
financing, designing, implementing and operating infrastructure facilities and 
3 
services for the ICT hub to maximize costs and allow for sharing of revenue, subject 
4 
to the provisions of Republic Act No. 6957. 
5 
SEC. 14. Prohibition Against Exclusivity. — All ICT hubs established under 
6 
this Act are hereby declared free zones within which any PTE may operate. Any 
7 
agreement or arrangement designating a PTE, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates 
8 
as an exclusive PTE within an ICT hub shall be void and unenforceable. The 
9 
domestic internet exchanges shall be interconnected. The Interconnection agreement 
10 
between the PTEs shall be submitted to the NTC for its approval. If the parties fail 
11 
to reach an agreement within ninety (90) days from the start of negotiation, the NTC 
12 
shall intervene and prescribe the terms and conditions of the interconnection. 
13 
SEC. 15. Penalties. — In the exercise of its quasi-judicial power, the NTC 
14 
shall impose a fine of Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) for (a) non-
15 
disclosure, (b) non-interconnection, or (c) non-compliance with the committed 
16 
Information rate and quality of service. The NTC shall increase the amount of fine 
17 
every five (5) years subject to a certification from the NEDA on the computation 
18 
based on the current consumer price index. 
19 
SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —  Within sixty (60) days 
20 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DICT as the lead agency, together with NEDA, 
21 
DILG, the League of Provinces and the Leagues of LGUs, the Board of Investments, 
22 
the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and the Advisory Committee, shall Issue 
23 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
24 


SEC. 17. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
1 
unconstitutional or Invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force 
2 
and effect. 
3 
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
4 
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are Inconsistent with or contrary 
5 
to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
6 
SEC. 19. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
7 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
8 
 
Approved,