FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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S.No. ___ _ 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Former President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 293 on 15 January 1996 
placing Channels 4, 9, and 13 under the direct supervision and control of the Office of the Press 
Secretary. Channel 4 is the official government television station while Channels 9 and 13 are 
sequestered television companies. E. O. No. 293 allegedly aims to streamline the organizational 
and functional operations of agencies attached to the Office ofthe Press Secretary. 
Exposed to the light of day, however, E.O. No. 293 is nothing less than a violation of 
constitutional mandate that no law shall be passed abridging the freedoms of speech, of 
expression, o~ of the press. This mandate means that in a free society, one's beliefs should be 
shaped by his mind and his conscience rather than coerced by the State. 
This bill seeks the passage of a Free Communications Act to prevent similar attempts by 
government, national and local, as well as by government-owned-or-controlled corporations to 
control or influence not only television but also radio, newspaper, and other media of mass 
communication in the future. Radio, television, and newspapers are the traditional media of mass 
communication by which the freedoms of speech.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 2284 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
, 'J 
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AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR FREE COMMUNICATION BY PROHIBITING CENSORSHIP 
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IN ALL FORMS OF MEDIA THAT INTERFERES WITH THE RIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH, 
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FREE PRESS, AND FREE EXPRESSION 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives afthe Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Communications Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy. - It is hereby declared state policy to permit 
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private or commercial broadcast stations, newspapers and other media mass communication to 
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develop with the widest journalistic freedom consistent with their public obligations. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(A) "Private or commercial broadcast station" means a radio or television station which 
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(i) disseminates radio communications or signals intended to be received by the 
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public, directly or by the intermediary or relay stations; and (ii) are owned and 
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operated by private individuals, foundations, corporations, or associations. 
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(B) "Radio" or "Radio communications" is given a broad meaning to include television, 
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cable television, and other media of mass communication. 
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(C) "Newspaper" means a privately-owned pUblication appearing at regular, or almost 
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regular, short intervals of time, as daily or weekly, appearing usually in sheet form 
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containing reports of happenings intended for the information of the general public. 
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(D) "Media of mass communication" includes television, radio, cable television, and 
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other services the licensed facilities of which may be substantially devoted toward 
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providing programming or other information services within the editorial control of 
the licensee. 
(E) 
"Financial supp011" means the total value of cash and fair market value of property 
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and services received as gifts, grants, bequests, donations, or other contributions for 
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the construction or operation of private or commercial broadcast stations, or for the 
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production, acquisition, distribution, or dissemination of television or radio 
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programs, and related activities, from the national government, any local 
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government, or any government-owned-or-controlled corporation. 
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SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. - (A) No department, agency, officer, or employee of the 
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national government, any local government, or any government-owned-or-controlled corporation 
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shall exercise any direct supervision or editorial control over the content or distribution of 
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newspaper reports or radio communications or signals that are disseminated by newspapers or 
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private or (fommercial broadcast stations by means of radio, television, and other media of mass 
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communication. 
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(B) The prohibition mentioned in paragraph (A) shall extend to newspapers or private or 
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commercial broadcast stations that are receiving financial support from the national government, 
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any local government, or any government-owned-or-controlled corporation. 
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(C) No department, agency, officer, or employee of the national government, any local 
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government, or any government-owned-or-controlled corporation shall exercise any direct 
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supervision or editorial control over the content or distribution of newspaper reports or radio 
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communications or signals on newspapers or private or commercial broadcast stations that have 
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been sequestered by the national government or in which the national government or local 
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government or government-owned-or-controlled corporation holds ownership interest. 
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SECTION 5. Prohibition on Censorship. - The national government or any of its 
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depal1ments, agencies, officials, or employees, any local government-owned-or-controlled 
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corporation shall have no power of censorship over newspaper or private or commercial 
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broadcast station, and no regulation or condition shall be promulgated or fixed by them that shall 
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interfere with the rights of free speech, free press, and free expression by means of newspaper 
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reports, radio communications, or signals. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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llnconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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