FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
625 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Presidential Decree No. 1986, which creates the Movie and the Television 
Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), does not authorize the MTRCB to 
prescribe ratings for violence in television programming and to promulgate rules 
rules for signals containing specifications for blocking violent programming in 
apparatuses with such technical capability. 
Neither does Republic Act No. 7925, also known as the Public 
Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, provide such measures for 
broadcast operations of public communication entities. 
On several occasions since 1975, the journal of the American Medical 
Association has alerted the medical community to the adverse effects of 
televised violence on child development, including an increase in the level of 
aggressive behavior among children who view it. A report dated May 1993 of the 
Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation in the United States, reveals that there is 
an irrefutable connection between the amount of violence depicted in the 
television program watched by children and increased aggression among them. 
This bill prescribes television violence rating codes for children and 
prohibits violent programming on television during certain hours. For those 
apparatuses equipped with technical capability for blocking signals, the bill 
authorizes the MTRCB and the NTC to jointly prescribed rules for transmission. 
The approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 625 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
LIMITING EXPOSURE OF CHILDREN TO VIOLENT PROGRAMMING ON 
TELEVISION AND CABLE SYSTEMS 
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 "Children's 
Media Protection Act." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the state to protect the 
welfare of children by limiting their exposure to violent programming on television 
and cable systems. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For Purpose of this Act: 
Cable Operator - any person or group of persons who (a) provides cable 
service over a cable system and directly or through one or more affiliates owns a 
significant interest in such cable system, or (b) who otherwise controls or is 
responsible for, through any arrangement, the management and operation of 
such a cable system; 
Cable System - any facility consisting of a set of closed transmission 
paths and associated signal generation, reception, and control equipment that is 
designed to provide cable service which includes video programming and which 
is provided to multiple to multiple subscribers within a community, but such terms 
does not include (a) a facility that serves only to retransmit the television signals 
of 1 or more television broadcast stations; (b) a facility that serves only 
subscribers in I or more multiple unit dwelling under common ownership, control 
management, unless such facility or facilities uses any public right-of way, (c) a 
facility of a common carrier, except to the extent such facility is used in the 
transmission of video programming directly for subscribers; or (d) any facility of 
any electric utility used solely for operating its electric utility system. 
Programming - includes advertisement but does not include newscast, 
news interviews, and news documentaries. 
Public Telecommunications Entity - any person, firm, 
corporation, 
government 
or 
private, 
engaged 
in 
the 
telecommunications services tot he public for compensation. 
partnership or 
provision 
of 


SEC. 4. Establishment of Television Violence Rating Code. -
The 
Movie and Television and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the National 
Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall, jointly prescribed, in consultation 
with television broadcasters, cable operators, concerned non-government 
organizations for children and interested individuals from the private sector, rules 
for the transmission by television broadcast systems and cable systems of 
signals containing specifications ~or blocking violent programming. 
SEC. 5. Elimination of Violent Programming on Television During 
Certain Hours. The MTRCB and the NTC shall, within 30 days from the 
effectivity of this Act, pass rules and regulations prohibiting the broadcast on 
commercial television and public telecommunications entities, including the 
broadcast by cable operators, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. inclusive, of 
programming that contains very violent scenes for children in accordance with 
the rating code established pursuant tot he preceding paragraph. 
SEC. 6. Separability ClalJse. If any provision or part hereof, is valid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the prOVision not otherwise affected 
shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree, or issuance, 
executive order fetter of instruction, administrative order, rule of regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at feast two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,