MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is pushing for tougher penalties against individuals who exploit the country’s mobile disaster alert system for scams and political propaganda.

Under Senate Bill No. 475, Estrada proposed imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to ₱1 million for those found guilty of misusing the free mobile emergency alert messaging system for fraudulent schemes, commercial promotion, or election-related messaging.

“Our mobile disaster alert system exists to save lives. Any attempt to exploit it for political, commercial, or fraudulent purposes is irresponsible and dangerous. We must protect the integrity of this system so that people can trust and act on the alerts they receive,” Estrada said.

The proposed bill seeks to strengthen Republic Act No. 10639 or the “Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act,” which mandates the issuance of mobile alerts by agencies like the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), PAGASA, and PHIVOLCS during emergencies.

Under the measure, individuals who use the alert system to send messages unrelated to its intended life-saving function—including advertisements and campaign propaganda—may face two to five years of imprisonment and fines ranging from ₱100,000 to ₱1 million.

“This measure aims to prevent abuse, preserve public trust in our disaster alert systems, and ensure that in times of crisis, every alert counts and every second matters,” Estrada added.

Estrada filed the bill following the Office of Civil Defense’s warning against scam text messages falsely offering financial aid in the name of the NDRRMC.

He also cited previous reports of political candidates allegedly using the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) during the last election period. The Commission on Elections had issued show-cause orders to several candidates in Masbate after emergency alerts were used to promote certain political personalities.

“Dapat may kalagyan sa ating batas ang mga kawatan na inaabuso ang emergency alert messaging system. Hindi natin dapat hayaan na pati mga mobile disaster alerts ay nagagamit na kasangkapan sa kanilang mapaglinlang na gawain,” Estrada said.