SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONORESS 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
SENATE BILL No.19~6_ 
'13 
NOV 18 P,):SO 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State affirms and mandates the rehabilitation, self-development and 
integration of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) into this conventional society 
through the passage of Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons 
with Disabilities, encouraging television stations to use subtitles or sign-
language interpreters in their news programs. However, in reality, only a small 
number of the major news programs are regularly using subtitles or sign-
language insets, while a couple of regional stations have been utilizing sign 
language insets with the help of non-government organizations. 
According to the Philippine Deaf Resource Center, less than 5% of the 
reported 120,000 hearing-impaired are literate or have received any form of 
schooling. Therefore it is recommended that Filipino sign language must be 
preferred over captions or subtitles. 
With millions of PWDs, there is a long-standing yet unnoticed call to use 
subtitles or sign language on TV. Filipinos who are diagnosed as hearing-
impaired only are deprived of timely and relevant information that broadcast 
news provides. 
Through this proposed bill, which seeks to amend Section 22 of RA 7277, 
"All free to air television stations are thus required to provide Filipino sign 
language insets whenever possible, closed captions or subtitles in at least two 
newscast programs a day and special programs covering events of national 
significance maybe used as an alternative. The free-to-air television stations 
may likewise opt to provide for Filipino sign language insets in other programs 
such as those pertaining to cultural affairs, livelihood and those catering to 
children. This was the broadcast media will be more accessible to those with 
hearing-impairment. This bill may also pave the way for more captioned or sign 
language interpreted programs in the future. l 
The immediate approval of this bill is hereby earnestly sought . 
• 
cs ~., 
JOSEPH VICTOR G EJERCITO 
1 Medil1 Relations Service, Public Relations and Information Bureau 


SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
I 
1 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. __ 
1_9_3_6_ 
'13 
NOV 113 P '5 :'50 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
AN ACT REQUIRING THE USE OF FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE INSETS 
FOR LOCAL NEWS PROGRAMS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
SECTION 22 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITIES (PWDsI" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION l. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, 
otherwise known as the "Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities 
(PWDs)", is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 
22. Broadcast . Media. - ALL FREE-TO-AIR 
[T]Television 
stations [shall 
be 
. encouraged] ARE 
REQUIRED to 
I 
provide [a] FILIPINO sign[-]language insetS, AND 
WHERE 
POSSIBLE, CLOSED 
CAPTIONS or 
subtitles 
in 
at 
least [one 
(I)] TWO (21 newscast programS a day and special programs covering 
events of national significance. 
"THE FREE-TO-AIR TELEVISION STATIONS MAY LIKEWISE OPT TO 
PROVIDE 
FOR FILIPINO 
SIGN 
LANGUAGE 
INSETS 
IN 
OTHER 
PROGRAMS 
SUCH 
AS 
THOSE 
PERTAINING 
TO 
CULTURAL 
AFFAIRS, LIVELIHOOD AND THOSE CATERING TO CHILDREN." 
SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, letters of 
instruction, resolutions, orders, ordinances or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended 
or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national 
circulation. 
Approved,