Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6070

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. MARIO VITTORIO “MARVEY” A. MARINO
5t District, Batangas

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 24, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State
recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.
Information, after all, is power. Mere recognition of its power, however, is not enough.
One can only witness the true power of information when it has been used and applied
effectively in nation-building. Instilling discipline, for instance, requires information.
A disciplined citizenry presupposes an informed society. One cannot be expected to
obey laws, rules, or code of behavior without knowing and understanding what these
laws, rules, and code of behavior are. Clearly, the role of communication and
information is vital in nation-building.

The government is the agency or instrumentality through which the will of the
State is formulated, expressed and realized.' One of the important tasks of the
government is to act for the State as parens Patriae, or guardian of the rights of the
people. As guardian of the rights of the people, it is the duty of the government to
see to it that the citizens are well-informed of their rights, duties and responsibilities.
It is only when people are well-informed of these rights, duties, and responsibilities
that they realize the importance of their role and purpose in society.

Mass media, on the other hand, is the primary means of communication to reach
the vast majority of the general public. The vast reach and influence of media can be
seen especially during elections. Political advertisements have been an effective tool
in conveying a candidate's message and in gaining votes and public support.
Television, for instance, is considered the most cost effective medium of
dissemination.” Even a slight increase in television exposure can significantly boost a
candidate's popularity, name recall and electability.’ If mass media can be used as
means to get votes, the more it can be used to inform the public of their rights, their
duties, and their responsibilities. Above all, mass media has the duty to inform people.

* Cruz, |. (2003). Political Law.
» Ibid,

* GMA v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 205357, September 2014
* Ibid.


Considering all these, it is vital that we have a law mandating mass media, in
particular radio and television broadcasting companies to allocate airtime for public
service announcements and infomercials on laws, social welfare, public safety,
government processes and other matters of public and national concern to increase
awareness and inform the public of their rights, duties and responsibilities.

In truth, radio and television broadcasting companies, which are given franchises,
do not own the airwaves and frequencies through which they transmit broadcast
signals and images. They are merely given the temporary privilege of using them.
Since a franchise is a mere privilege, the exercise of the privilege may reasonably be
burdened with the performance by the grantee of some form of public service.’ By
allocating public services announcements and government infomercials, TV and radio
networks are performing some form of public service for the Filipino people. It is
time government and mass media work together for the betterment of this country.

In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is egmestly requested.

\

MARIO RIO 'VEY” A. MARINO

* Telecommunications and Broadcast Attorneys of the Philippines, Inv. v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 132922,
April 1998


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 6070

Introduced by Rep. MARIO VITTORIO “MARVEY” A. MARINO
5% District, Batangas

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL TELEVISION AND RADIO
FACILITIES TO ALLOCATE AT LEAST FIVE (5) MINUTES A DAY
FOR AIRTIME FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND
INFOMERCIALS ON LAWS, SOCIAL WELFARE, PUBLIC SAFETY,
PROCEDURES AND OTHER MATTERS OF NATIONAL INTEREST
TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND INFORM THE PUBLIC OF
THEIR RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS CITIZENS
OF THE COUNTRY AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATION THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. All television (TV) and radio facilities are hereby required to
allocate at least five (5) minutes airtime a day to enable the government to educate
and increase the awareness of the people on the following matters:

Laws;

Road and traffic discipline;
Health;

Government processes;

. Public safety;

Good values;

. Welfare rights and benefits; and
. Disaster preparedness programs

FRroepege

TV and radio networks may select the subject matter to be featured at any given
time, provided that a minimum of two (2) minutes a day of airtime shall be allocated
during primetime.

For purposes of this Act, TV and radio facilities shall be used interchangeably
with TV and radio networks.

SECTION 2. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall cause the
production of the public service commercials designed to promote and inform the


public on the latest laws, issues, announcements, warnings, plans and programs of the
government to be aired by all TV and radio networks.

SECTION 3. Failure of any TV or radio station facility to provide the required
public service time under Section 1 of this Act shall be ground for suspension,
revocation or non-renewal of license to operate TV or radio networks.

SECTION 4. Within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Act, the Director
General of the PIA, in coordination with the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng
Pilipinas (KBP), shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 5. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,