Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR FREE COMMUNICATION BY PROHIBITING CENSORSHIP 
IN ALL FORMS OF MEDIA THAT INTERFERES WITH THE RIGHTS OF FREE 
SPEECH, FREE PRESS, AND FREE EXPRESSION 
The constitution mandates that no law shall be passed abridging the freedoms of 
speech, of expression, or 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 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. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
9108
March 23, 2021
1:13 PM


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR FREE COMMUNICATION BY PROHIBITING CENSORSHIP 
IN ALL FORMS OF MEDIA THAT INTERFERES WITH THE RIGHTS OF FREE 
SPEECH, FREE PRESS, AND FREE EXPRESSION 
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 “Free Communications Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy. – It is hereby declared state policy to permit 
private or commercial broadcast stations, newspapers and other media mass 
communication to develop with the widest journalistic freedom consistent with their 
public obligations. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A) “Private or commercial broadcast station” means a radio or television station 
which (i) disseminates radio communications or signals intended to be received by 
the public, directly or by the intermediary or relay stations; and (ii) are owned and 
operated by private individuals, foundations, corporations, or associations. 
(B) “Radio” or “Radio communications” is given a broad meaning to include television, 
cable television, and other media of mass communication. 
(C) “Newspaper” means a privately-owned publication appearing at regular, or almost 
regular, short intervals of time, as daily or weekly, appearing usually in sheet form 
containing reports of happenings intended for the information of the general public. 
(D) “Media of mass communication” includes television, radio, cable television, and 
other services the licensed facilities of which may be substantially devoted toward 
providing programming or other information services within the editorial control of the 
licensee. 
(E) “Financial support” means the total value of cash and fair market value of 
property and services received as gifts, grants, bequests, donations, or other 
contributions for the construction or operation of private or commercial broadcast 
stations, or for the production, acquisition, distribution, or dissemination of television 
9108


 
 
or radio programs, and related activities, from the national government, any local 
government, or any government-owned-or-controlled corporation. 
 
SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. –  
 
(A) No department, agency, officer, or employee of the national government, any local 
government, or any government-owned-or-controlled corporation shall exercise any 
direct supervision or editorial control over the content or distribution of newspaper 
reports or radio communications or signals that are disseminated by newspapers or 
private or commercial broadcast stations by means of radio, television, and other 
media of mass communication. 
 
(B) The prohibition mentioned in paragraph (A) shall extend to newspapers or private 
or commercial broadcast stations that are receiving financial support from the national 
government, any local government, or any government-owned-or-controlled 
corporation. 
 
(C) No department, agency, officer, or employee of the national government, any local 
government, or any government-owned-or-controlled corporation shall exercise any 
direct supervision or editorial control over the content or distribution of newspaper 
reports or radio communications or signals on newspapers or private or commercial 
broadcast stations that have been sequestered by the national government or in 
which 
the 
national 
government 
or 
local 
government 
or 
government-owned-or-controlled corporation holds ownership interest. 
 
SECTION 5. Prohibition on Censorship. – The national government or any of its 
departments, 
agencies, 
officials, 
or 
employees, 
any 
local 
government-owned-or-controlled corporation shall have no power of censorship over 
newspaper or private or commercial broadcast station, and no regulation or condition 
shall be promulgated or fixed by them that shall interfere with the rights of free speech, 
free press, and free expression by means of newspaper reports, radio 
communications, or signals. 
 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,