Introduction
BetterLegazpi.org ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website.
This policy is designed to comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) of the Philippines and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
Legal Basis for Processing
Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, we process personal information based on the following lawful criteria:
- Consent: When you choose to email us. This site has no contact form: the addresses on the contact page open your own mail application, so nothing reaches us until you send it yourself
- Legitimate Interest: To improve our website, ensure security, and provide better civic services
- Legal Obligation: When required by Philippine law or government authorities
- Public Interest: To promote transparency and civic engagement in local governance
Information We Collect
We collect minimal information necessary to operate this civic platform effectively:
Information You Provide Voluntarily
- Email address (when you contact us or submit feedback)
- Name (if provided in correspondence)
- Message content and inquiries
Information Collected Automatically
- IP address (anonymized where possible)
- Browser type and version
- Device type and operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on pages
- Referring website or source
- General geographic location (country/region level)
We do not collect sensitive personal information such as government-issued ID numbers, financial information, health records, or biometric data through this website.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to your inquiries and feedback
- To improve website functionality and user experience
- To analyze website traffic and usage patterns
- To ensure website security and prevent abuse
- To comply with legal obligations
- To maintain and improve civic services information
Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information only in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: With trusted third-party services (e.g., web hosting, analytics) that assist in operating our website, subject to confidentiality agreements
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government authority under Philippine jurisdiction
- Protection of Rights: To protect the rights, property, or safety of BetterLegazpi.org, our users, or the public
- Consent: With your explicit consent for any other purpose
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:
- SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
- Secure hosting infrastructure
- Regular security assessments
- Access controls and authentication
- Regular software updates and patches
While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to maintaining industry-standard protections.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:
- Contact Information: Retained for the duration needed to respond to inquiries, then deleted within 1 year of last contact
- Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for statistical purposes
- Server Logs: Automatically deleted after 90 days
Your Rights Under the Data Privacy Act
Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Right to Be Informed: To be informed of the collection and processing of your personal data
- Right to Access: To request access to your personal data held by us
- Right to Object: To object to the processing of your personal data
- Right to Erasure or Blocking: To request deletion or blocking of your personal data
- Right to Rectification: To request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data
- Right to Data Portability: To obtain your personal data in a structured, commonly used format
- Right to File a Complaint: To file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC)
- Right to Damages: To be indemnified for damages sustained due to inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, false, unlawfully obtained, or unauthorized use of personal data
Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at volunteer@betterlegazpi.org. We will respond to your request within 30 days as required by law.
Children's Privacy
BetterLegazpi.org is a general audience website providing civic information. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 years of age without parental consent.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at volunteer@betterlegazpi.org, and we will take steps to delete such information.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external websites, including official government portals and other resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external websites you visit through links on our platform.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes:
- The "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this page will be revised
- Material changes may be announced on our website
- Your continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data privacy rights, or have concerns about how your information is handled, please contact us:
National Privacy Commission
You may also file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission if you believe your data privacy rights have been violated:
National Privacy Commission
3rd Floor, Core G, GSIS Headquarters Building
Financial Center, Pasay City 1308
Website: www.privacy.gov.ph
Last updated: August 29, 2026