The local government of Muntinlupa City has enacted an ordinance requiring the use of legal and ethical software in its offices and by private entities with city contracts and agreements.

This, as Muntinlupa City Mayor Rufino Biazon signed Ordinance No. 2025-328, the “Legal and Ethical Software Use Ordinance of Muntinlupa,” which was passed by the Muntinlupa City Council.

The ordinance cites Republic Act 10175, the Anti-Cybercrime Law, which recognizes copyright infringement through digital means as a punishable offense. It emphasizes the risks of using unlicensed software, including cybersecurity threats, malware exposure, operational inefficiencies and intellectual property violations.

It states that the use of unlicensed software deprives developers of fair compensation, stifles innovation and weakens the digital economy.

The ordinance covers all Muntinlupa City government departments, offices, agencies and personnel; all hardware and electronic devices owned, leased or in the city’s custody that use software for official functions; and private entities with contracts, projects or partnerships with the city, regarding their software use in those transactions.