FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION x

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1055

House Bill No.,
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to require the broadcast of television programs and showing of
motion pictures and other audio-visual presentation with closed caption and
providing penalties of violation thereof to respond to the needs of the hearing
impaired individual

Closed-caption is a method of captioning or subtitling of television, home
video programs and films for hearing-impaired of foreign language viewer without
interfering with the normal television picture and films, by coding caption as vertical
interval data signal which is decoded at the receiver and superimposed on the
television picture or on films of motion pictures.

With the advances of information technology and the relevance of television
programs, motion pictures, and other audio-visual presentation as tools of learning,
there is a need to enable persons with hearing impairments to take advantage of
Such technology and enjoy audio-visual entertainments with their seemingly
unbounded innovations.

This proposed measure aims to address such need by making it compulsory
for all franchise holders of operators of television stations, producers of television
programs, home video programs and motion pictures to have their programs and
films broadcast with closed captions.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

RUFUS B. IRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1055

House Bill No.

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL FRANCHISE HOLDERS OR OPERATORS OF TELEVISON
STATIONS, PRODUCERS OF TELEVISION PROGRAMS, HOME VIDEO
PROGRAMS AND MOTION PICTURES TO HAVE THEIR PROGRAMS AND
FILMS BROADCAST WITH CLOSED-CAPTION AND PROVIDING PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATION THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. All franchise holders or operators of television stations,
producers of television stations, producers of television programs, home video
programs and motion pictures shall be required to have their programs and films with
closed-captions so as to benefit persons with hearing impairment

As used in this Act, closed-caption shall mean a method of captioning or
subtitling of television, home video programs and films for hearing-impaired or
foreign language viewers without interfering with the normal television picture and
films, by coding captions as vertical interval data signal which is decoded at the
receiver and superimposed on the television picture or on films of motion pictures.

SECTION 2. Any franchise holder or operator of television stations, producer
of television programs, home video programs and motion pictures, who shall violate
the provision of Section 1 shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty thousand
pesos (P50,000.00) nor more than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or by
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year or both such
fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court.

In case the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or any other
Juridical person, the president, manager, administrator, or the person-in-charge of
the management of the business shall be liable therefore. In addition, the license or
permit to operate its business shall be canceled


If the offender is an alien, in addition to the penalties herein prescribed, he
shall, after service of sentence, be deported without further proceedings on the part
of the Bureau of Immigration.

SECTION 3. The National Telecommunications Commission, in consultation
with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and Videogram
Regulatory Board, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act

SECTION 4. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any
person or circumstances is held invalid, the other provisions of this Act and the
application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected
thereby

SECTION 5. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the official Gazette
whichever comes earlier.

Approved.