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1 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. NoI078 
Introduced by Senator Manny Viilar 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Obscene and/or destructive pictures, whether motion or still, are regarded 
by law as nuisance per se to the community. All the more if these pictures were 
displayed in major thoroughfares as billboards where huge number of 
pedestrians and vehicles pass by everyday. Nowadays, many of these picture-
billboards, colossal in size and several in number can be seen in our major 
thoroughfares advertising products movies and services. Instances of such 
thoroughfares are Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Aurora Boulevard, and North 
Luzon Expressway. 
The presence of obscene pictures in our thoroughfares raises two (2) 
significant issues, which render the images as public nuisance. First, such 
pictures are hazardous to road safety. More often than not, these distracting 
images capture the attention of vehicle drivers that may cause road accidents. 
Some vehicle drivers would instantly stop or reduce their speed to give a glance, 
for instance, at the naughty posing and bikini-laden body of picture-billboard 
models. 
Another issue being raised by obscene pictures is their influence upon 
how people, especially children, perceive obscenity. The fact that these obscene 
images are displayed in thoroughfares insensitively and openly seen by the 
community trivializes obscenity into a normal:and unproblematic phenomenon. 
Without proper guidance, children may view.models on skimpy clothing and 
naughty positions as "cool" role models. In the case of adults, obscene images 
may trigger sexually impure ideas and acts that give room to sex related 
offenses. 
Being a public nuisance, the State, through the National Government or 
any instrumentality or subdivision thereof has the right to prohibit the public 
exhibition of obscene pictures, whether motion or still. Entwined with that right is 
the constitutionally enshrined duty of the State to be concerned about the general 
welfare of the populace that includes, among others, maintaining road safety and 
the strengthening of moral fiber. 
This bill seeks to put into action the aforementioned right and duty of the 
State. This bill wishes to arrest the seemingly unrestrained influx of obscene 
pictures along the country's major thoroughfares. And by doing this, the general 
welfare of the populace is indeed protected and enriched. 
In view thereof, early passage of this bill is stron y urged. 


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1 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
s.No.1078 
Introduced by Senator ~anny Villar 
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AN ACT PROHIBITING THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION OR DISPLAY OF 
OBSCENE AND/OR DISTRACTIVE MOTiON OR STILL PICTURES ALONG 
MAJOR THOROUGHFARES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. Re'alizing the need to promote road 
safety, in view of the hazardous effects of obscene and/or distractive motion or 
still pictures along major thoroughfares upon vehicle drivers, and recognizing the 
need to protect the morals of the community, in view of the damaging effects 
caused by such pictures on the values of children and the general public, it is 
hereby declared the policy of the state to disallow the public exhibition or display 
of obscene pictures, whether for purposes of advertisement or otherwise, along 
major thoroughfares. 
Section 2. Obscene and/or Distractive Pictures. For purposes of this Act, 
obscene and/or distractive pictures mean pictures or images, still or moving, that: 
1) go substantially beyond customary limit of candor and offend community 
standards of decency; and 2) lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific 
value. 
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Section 3. Penalties. The party or parties responsible for the public 
exhibition or display of obscene and/or distractive picture shall, for the first 
offense, be liable for a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) 
nor more than Seventy Thousand Pesos (P70,000.00) plus, for advertisers, 
suspension of advertising permit or license for thirty-(30) days; for the second 
offense, to a fine of not less than Seventy Thousand Pesos (P70,000.00) nor 
more than Eighty Thousand Pesos (P80,000.00) plus, 
for advertisers, 
suspension of advertising permit or license for sixty (60) days; and for the third 
and final offense, imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than six (6) 
years or a fine of not less than Eighty Thousand Pesos (P80,000.00) nor more 
than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P1 00,000.00) or both imprisonment and 
fine at the discretion of the court plus, for advertisers, cancellation of advertising 
permit or license. 
If the offender is a firm, corporation, partnership or association, the penalty 
shall be imposed upon the owner, manager, president or any responsible officer 
of the aforementioned organizations. 
Section 4. Monitoring. The Department of Public Works and Highway 
shall: 1) identify the major thoroughfares in the country, in view of its pre-
established standards; and 2) monitor compliance with the provisions of this Act. 
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Section 5. Rule-Making Powers. The Department of Public Works and Highway 
and the Department of Justice shall promulgate a procedure for the prosecution 
of violators and other necessary rules an'd regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
Section 6. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any portion or portions of this 
Act is found unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such 
portions which are not affected by the declaration shall remain valid and 
ineffective. 
Section 7. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
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