Smart, Low-carbon and Lean Websites Act (Green Government Websites Act)

With oft TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 25 JUL 14 A11 :53 SENATE RECEIVED E:. S. No. 526 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SUSTAINABLE AND LOW-IMPACT LOADING STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT WEBSITES AND ONLINE SERVICES, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The transition to digital governance has reshaped how the Philippine government delivers services. From tax filing and licensing to social services and education, government websites serve as essential public gateways. Yet as our reliance on digital infrastructure grows, so too does its environmental footprint. Every page visit, file download, and database query consumes electricity-on both server and user sides-and these small transactions, when scaled to millions of visits daily, contribute significantly to national energy demand and carbon emissions. To illustrate, current estimates show that the average government website in the Philippines likely receives around 122,000 visits per month, based on half the average monthly traffic to U.S. federal websites. With approximately 2,100 government entities nationwide including national agencies, GOCCS, LGUs, and SUCs-this translates to an estimated 3.07 billion page views annually. Based on international studies, an unoptimized web page emits around 2.0 or more grams of COz per visit, while an optimized, energy- efficient page emits only 0.3 to 0.5 grams.1 Taking a conservative average savings of 1.5 grams per page view, the potential annual carbon reduction if all government websites 1 Gerry McGovern, "Reducing Carbon Emissions On The Web," Smashing Magazine, September 16, 2021. Available at: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2021/09/reducing-carbon-emissions-on- web (accessed July 8, 2025).

adopted green practices would amount to approximately 4.6 million kilograms (or 4,600 metric tons) of COz. In energy terms, this equates to about 6.58 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) saved annually, assuming 1.43 kWh is required to produce 1 kg of COz. At the current average electricity cost of ₽10 per kWh, this results in an estimated P65.8 million in annual energy savings across the public sector. These savings accrue not only at the server level but also on the user side, as faster, mobile-optimized websites use less data, place less load on devices, and enhance performance. For many Filipinos who are data-reliant or live in areas with slow or intermittent internet signals, lightweight websites can dramatically improve access, usability, and reliability. In this way, green website standards promote not just sustainability, but also digital equity and inclusion in public service delivery. The proposed Smart, Low-Carbon and Lean Websites Act, also known as the Green Government Websites Act, aims to institutionalize environmentally responsible practices in the design, hosting, and maintenance of all government websites. The bill mandates: 1. the use of energy-efficient coding and lightweight web structures, 2. the preference for hosting providers powered by renewable energy, 3. the optimization of databases to reduce server energy loads, 4. the conduct of annual digital carbon audits, and 5. the publication of "digital footprint disclosures" on every government homepage. It also tasks the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) with issuing green website design guidelines, training web administrators across agencies, and maintaining a registry of certified green websites. These interventions are not just environmental; they also lead to improved performance, reduced bounce rates, lower ICT maintenance costs, and more efficient data operations. This measure aligns with our obligations under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (RA 11285) and the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729). It also supports our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: 1. Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 2. Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 3. Goal 13 (Climate Action).

Globally, several countries are taking steps toward sustainable digital practices, particularly in reducing the environmental impact of websites and online services. Germany, through its government-backed Blue Angel ecolabel, has begun certifying environmentally friendly software and IT services, laying the groundwork for broader digital sustainability standards. Sweden and Denmark have likewise integrated digital sustainability into their national strategies, with government support for energy-efficient data centers and green ICT procurement, though no country has yet adopted a national standard specifically for green government websites. The Green Web Foundation, an international non-profit, maintains a global directory of hosting providers powered by renewable energy and offers tools like the Green Web Check and CO2.js to measure website-related emissions-supporting the broader vision of a fossil-free internet by 2030. Meanwhile, major tech companies have made ambitious climate pledges: Google aims for net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2030, focusing on 24/7 carbon-free energy in its data centers. Meta (Facebook) reports net-zero operations since 2020 and targets full value-chain net-zero by 2030. Shopify established a Sustainability Fund in 2019, leading in voluntary carbon removal purchases and clean digital operations. These efforts signal an emerging global movement to green the digital space-one in which governments, too, must take part. The Philippines must not fall behind in this transition. More importantly, the government must lead by example. If the State expects businesses and citizens to practice environmental responsibility, it must first green its own digital infrastructure. The greening of government websites is a low-cost, high-impact, and future-facing reform. It is a low-hanging fruit that immediately saves energy, reduces public sector emissions, improves citizen experience, and strengthens our position as a climate leader in Southeast Asia. We owe it to the public-and to future generations-to make our digital government not just smart and efficient, but also sustainable. In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is sought. LOREN LEGARDA 2 Source: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/green-web-check/ 3 Source: https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/co2-js/

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 14 A11:53 SENATE RECEIVED BY. S. No. 526 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SUSTAINABLE AND LOW-IMPACT LOADING STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENT WEBSITES AND ONLINE SERVICES, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 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 "Smart, Low-Carbon

2 and Lean Websites Act (Green Government Websites Act)".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote

4 sustainable and environmentally responsible digital transformation in government by adopting standards that reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of 6 official websites, portals, and online systems. Recognizing that digital infrastructure 7 consumes electricity and contributes to climate change, the State shall lead by 8 example in optimizing government websites for energy efficiency, fast performance, 9 and reduced emissions, while also improving the delivery of public services online.

Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shali apply to all national government agencies

(NGAs), government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), local government units (LGUs), constitutional offices, and independent bodies that maintain official websites, portals, or online service platforms.

Sec. 4. Green Website Standards. - All covered government entities shall

design, operate, and maintain their websites and digital platforms in accordance with sustainable design and infrastructure principles. At a minimum, these shall include:

a) Optimized coding and design using lightweight, mobile-first structures, compressed images, and minimal plug-ins to ensure fast loading and reduced data transfer; b) Sustainable hosting with preference for data centers powered by renewable energy or certified as carbon-neutral; c) Efficient database management including data deduplication, indexing, and clean data structuring to reduce server energy load; d) Low-energy user interaction by avoiding auto-play features, unnecessary animations, or elements that increase device CPU usage; and e) Accessibility and interoperability in accordance with web accessibility standards to ensure universal use, especially in low-bandwidth environments.

Sec. 5. Digital Carbon Audits and Public Disclosure. - All covered entities shall:

a) Conduct an annual digital carbon audit of their websites and online services using tools or methodologies to be prescribed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR); b) Submit such audits to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); and c) Publish on the homepage a "digital footprint disclosure" that shows key metrics on page load efficiency and estimated energy consumption per user visit.

Sec. 6. Institutional Support and Capacity Building. - The DICT, in coordination

with the DENR, Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), shall: a) Develop and disseminate Green Website Design Guidelines and sample code or templates; b) Provide training and technical assistance to ICT officers, content managers, and developers of covered entities; and c) Establish and maintain a Registry of Certified Green Government Websites, to be updated annually and published online.

Sec. 7. Performance Benchmarks and Incentives. - The IRR shall define tiered

2 performance benchmarks (e.g., page weight, load time, energy per visit) for green websites. Agencies meeting or exceeding benchmarks may: a) Qualify for performance-based digital innovation grants or sustainability- linked funding; and b) Receive recognition or certification through national environmental awards or ICT excellence programs.

Sec. 8. Integration with Energy and Climate Data. - All data and reports

generated under this Act shall form part of national indicators on energy efficiency and climate mitigation, in alignment with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 11 (RA 11285) and the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729).

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the DICT, in consultation with DENR, DOE, and DOST, shall promulgate the IRR to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative orders,

presidential decrees, rules and regulations, and parts thereof inconsistent with this 20 Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

22 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,