First Regular Session 
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I kroduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 proddes:. 
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Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in 
natiofi-building and shall ' promote their physical, moral, spiritual, 
intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism 
and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic 
affairs. 
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. Teievision influences children's perception of the values and behavior that are 
common abd acdeptabkin society. 
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Violent hdeo programming influences children, as does indecent 
There is kpirical ekdence 
shows that children who are exposed'to 
so exposed. They are prone to assume that acts of 
programming, at a young 
later in life than those 
a higher tendency for violent and aggr 
violence are acceptable behavior1 
There is a compelling governmental interest in limiting the negative influences of 
violent video programming on children. Restricting the hours when violent video 
programming is shown, as a valid exercise of police power of the State, is the least 
restrictive and most narrowly tailored means to achieve that compelling governmental 
interest. Warning labels about the violent content of video programming will not, in 
themselves, prevent children tkom watching violent video programming. 
This bill seeks to 
protect children against violent video programming, by 
prohibiting its distribution to the public during hours when children are reasonably likely 
to comprise a substantial portion of the audience. 
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MIRIAM D E P E ~ S O R  
SANTIAGO 


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CJE i\a ,AT E 
. THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
QFFrCf Of THE 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATEglz,, 
S. B. No. 
‘04 JUL -1 
A10 54 
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Introduced by Senatof Miriam Defensor Santiago 
.PROHIBITING 
T 
ISTRIBUTION TO THII: PUBLIC! OF VIOLE 
PROGRAMMING DURWG HOURS WBEN CHILDREN ARE REASONABLY 
L m L Y  TO COMPRISE A SUBSTANTIAL-PORTION OF THE AUDENCE 
Be it enacted by ihe Senate and Hozise of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress:s. 
assem bled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title - this Act shall be known as the “Children’s Protection 
from Violent Programming Act” 
SECTION 2. Dejhition - As used in this act: 
(1) 
programming 
includes advertisements but does not include bona fide 
newscasts, bona fide news interviews, bona fide news documentaries, and on-the-spot 
coverage of bona fide news events. 
(2) cable operator - any person, corporation, partnership or association engaged in 
the distribution of television programs through cable or any similar technology. 
(3) distribute - to send, transmit, retransmit, telecast, broadcast, or cablecast, 
including by wire, microwave, or satellite. 
SECTION 3. Unlawfur disfribution - it shall be unlawful for any commerciiil 
television and public telecommunications entities, including cable operators to-- 
(1) distribute to the public any violent video programming, inclusive, of 
programming that 
contains gratuitous violence, during hours when children are 
reasonably likely to comprise a substantial portion of the audience or, 
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(2) knowingly produce or provide material for such distribution. 


SECTION 4 
a) The Nai 
proceeding to imp1 
regulations pursuant 
of the Children's Prc 
b) As part of 
(1) may exei 
programs, and spoi 
of protecting chiidre 
(2) shall exei 
(3) shall defi 
substantial portion ( 
SECTION 5 
may not be awardec 
agrees to comply \. 
under this Act. 
SECTION 
regulation promulg 
repeatedly violates 
hearing, immediate1 
SECTION 
shall consider, am0 
under this Act, whi 
promulgated under 
SECTION I 
Prohibition On Violent Progmmming 
nal Telecommunications Commission shall conduct a rulemaking 
lent the 
provisions of this section and shall promulgate final 
I the proceeding not later than 9 months after the date of enactment 
ction from Violent Programming Act 
lat proceeding, the Commission-- 
rt from the prohibition news programs, documentaries, educational 
ig events whose distribution does not conflict with the objective 
kom the negative influences of violent video programming 
)t premium and pay-per-view cable programming and 
: the term 'hours when children are reasonably likely to comprise a 
the audience' and the term 'violent video programming'. 
Franchise Grunt. A franchise, including the renewal of a franchise, 
,rider this part unlesg the cable operator to be awarded the franchise 
h the standards for children's television programming established 
Penalty for VioZation - any person who violates this act or any 
:d under this act, shall pay a fine of P200,OOO.OO. If said person 
ie same, the Commission shall, after notice and opporhmity for 
.epeal any license issued to that person under this Act. 
Consideration of vidatiom in license renewals- The Commission 
the elements in its review of an application for renewal of a license 
ier the licensee has complied with this section and the regulations 
is section. 
SeparubjZjty CZuuse - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repeazing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 


inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Eflecfivity CZmse - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
EPC 
24 November 1998