VOTING 224-0, the House of Representatives approved on its third and final reading House Bill No. 10388, an Act Mandating the Allocation of an Area for Information and Communications Technology [ICT] Infrastructure and Facilities and Housing Development Projects.

The bill, principally sponsored and authored by Tarlac second district Congressman Victor Yap aims to have an integrated approach in pursuing the development of affordable housing side by side with sustainable physical infrastructure that responds to the needs of the population and residents including those pertaining to connectivity, health education, housing, community, public space, transportation, sports and recreation, the practice of faith, public information, arts and culture and public safety.
“I think everyone knows now how important is [internet] speed. Through this bill, the state and any housing development have to allocate areas for digital connectivity” Yap said.
Yap is the House of Representatives’ Committee Chairman on Information and Communications Technology.
The bill likewise aims to promote the accessibility of information and communications technology and ensure digital connectivity in urban centers and populated areas of the country, all housing projects, subdivisions, villages, or other residential real property, including socialized or economic housing by way of allocating an area within its designated open space for the establishment of ICT infrastructure and related amenities.
Yap’s bill, filed on October 15 had its first and reading on November 11 and November 22 and third reading on December 1, will now be forwarded to the Bi-Cameral Conference Committee for its final deliberation with the Senate’s version of the bill.
Co-authors of the bill include Representatives Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Joy Myra Tambunting, Strike Revilla, Paul Ruiz Daza, Jose Francisco Benitez, Michael Carlos Faustino III, Michaela Violago, Angelo Marcos Barba, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Deogracias Victor Savellano, John Marvin Nieto, Florida Robles, Rufus Rodriguez, Jose Ong Jr., Alfonso Umali Jr., Kristine Alexie Tutor, John Reynald Tiangco, Julienne Baronda, Rosanna Vergara, Jose Gay Padiernos, Estrellita Suansing, Faustino Dy, Naella Aguinaldo, Allan Benedict Reyes, Ruffy Biazon and Precious Hipolito Castelo.
AFMC