, -  
THIRTEENTH CONGRES 
First Regular Session 
"04 ' ( ' - 1  3$3 J-$n .^,4 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINE 
L *  
l+,*J - I  
.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
The overwhelming presence of media in all aspects of our lives can no 
longer be underestimated. Its pervasiveness has propelled media-exposed 
personalities into positions of power, has helped shaped the political agenda of 
both the government and its people, and has influenced the thoughts and 
actions of the public far 
greater than the combined forces of educational 
institutions, the church, and even our very homes. 
1.; 
However, despite the increasing acceptance of broadcast media-whether 
radio or television - a powerful tool with enormous potentialities to aid economic, 
social, cultural and educational development, policies still have to be put in place 
and implemented in order to maximize their full potential, and to create an 
environment suitable for an effective and responsive broadcasting system in our 
country. 
With the present economic crisis, there is even a more urgent need to 
utilize new and innovative approaches in the use of broadcasting for national 
development in order to help alleviate the perennial problems of lack of schools, 
qualified teachers, textbooks and learning materials, and the full, realistic 
implementation of the ideal "Education for All". At present, broadcasting's potency, 
persuasiveness and potential vast audience have not yet been harnessed, 
developed and exploited in promoting distance learning and continuing education 
programs for adults and out-of-school youths, 
neither in popularizing and 
propagating artistic expressions in hastening cultural development. 
As such, this proposed measure calls for the serious consideration of the 
establishment of a public broadcastin systemlsenric 
as an alternative to the 
over-alternative commercial system in the Philippines. A system that will be truly 
responsive to the diversified needs and interests of the people, with a concept 


of programming that caters to the broadcast interest of all segments of the 
public, to the minorities as well as the majority and the marginalized. An 
independent system that creates and maintains some distance between its 
founders and its programming, with decentralized and self-sustaining local 
stations which decide suitable programs for their communities. A noncommercial 
service that is not motivated by profit but one mainly concerned with providing 
the best, high quality programs to meet and serve the public broadcasting 
system with the sole purpose of serving the public, helping shape attitudes and 
mold opinions, inspiring action and contributing to the enhancement of national 
unity and development. 
Such a system, 
if adopted, can definitely help the government in its 
democratization efforts in bringing about political, social and economic stability in 
the country. Most progressive countries operate public broadcasting systems 
along side privatekommercial systems, thereby providing for amore balanced 
service. There is no reason why the Philippines should not take the opportunity 
to start operating and indigenous system. Doing so would be a fulfillment of the 
government's moral obligation and social responsibility of 
helping direct the 
development of mass media along the lines of service and responsibility. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
RCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINE 
First Regular Session 
EMAT 
9 
Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER 
GENERAL PROVISION 
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the ‘[Philippine Public 
Broadcasting System Act of 2004 
SECTION 2. Declaration 
of 
Policies. 
In 
consonance 
with 
the 
Constitutional recognition of the vital role of communication and information in 
nation building, and the important aspect played by the broadcasting industry, it 
is hereby declared as the policy of the State to 
a. Seek for the full development of Filipino capabilities, the emergence of 
communication structures suitable to the needs and aspirations of the 
nation and the balanced flow of information into, out of, and across 
the country, in accordance with a policy that respects the freedom of 
speech and of the press. 
b. Make available to the people an efficient and nationwide broadcasting 
service with adequate facilities to serve the people’s needs. 
Develop the broadcasting industry as a medium for the development, 
promotion and advancement of Filipino nationalism, culture and values 
that serve as an instrument in the struggle for Filipino sovereignty, 
identity, national and integration. 
c. 


d. 
Harness, in the most effective and least burdensome manner, the 
resources of the government and the private sector toward a close, 
continuous and balanced cooperation in order to take advantage of 
technological advances in the broadcasting industry. 
e. Maintain a broadcasting system that shall serve as a vital link for 
democratic 
participation and effect the government’s 
objective of 
information dissemination through developmental communication which 
is free from any political or partisan influence and held accountable 
directly to the people. 
Encourage the production and broadcast of programs of a high general 
standard in all respects particularly regarding their content and quality; 
and the proper balance of educational, entertainment, news, cultural, 
public affairs and sports program, discussing wide range of subject 
matter. 
f. 
SECTION 3. 
Creation of the Philippine Public Broadcasting System. 
There is hereby created the Philippine Public Broadcasting System, hereinafter 
referred to as the PPBS, an attached agency to the Office of the President, 
and shall be governed by the provisions of this Act. The PPBS is hereby 
mandated to exercise fiscal and administrative autonomy in the pursuit of its 
objectives and purposes. The principal office of the PPBS shall be located within 
the Metropolitan Manila area. 
SECTION 4. Statement of Objectives and Purposes. The PPBS shall 
provide television 
and radio broadcasting services for the dissemination of 
information, education, 
and entertainment to the general 
public and the 
development of critical thinking among citizenry. It shall serve as an independent 
and autonomous vehicle of government in order to bring it closer to the people 
and enhance the awareness of the general public on the programs, policies, and 
direction of the government 
To this end, it shall work towards a rational allocation of its broadcast 
resource in order to develop, disseminate and preserve Filipino culture by 
fostering a sense of national integrity and pride. 
SECTION 5. Duties of the PPBS. It shall 
be the duty of the PPBS: 
a. To ensure that it will exercise the highest standard of independence and 
autonomy in handling issues and views expressed in all broadcast 
stations. 


b. To ensure that the programs broadcast shall contain and maintain a 
high standard of excellence in their content in their content and quality, 
including the proper balance of education, entertainment, news, public 
affairs and sports programs, with a wide range of subject matter. 
c. To ensure that nothing is included in the programs broadcast by the 
PPBS which shall: (1) offend against morals, good taste, or decency; 
(2) offend any racial/ethnic group or may promote ill between different 
public groups; (3) offend the followers of nay religious faiths, sects, 
or orders; and/or (4) may outrage public feelings in general. 
d. To include and encourage the participation of the widest number of 
Filipino talents or artist from all sectors of society ensuring the widest 
dissemination of Filipino cultural artistic works. 
CHAPTER II 
POWERS AND STRUCTUTRE 
SECTION 6. Powers of the PPBS. In order to accomplish the foregoing 
purposes and duties, the PPBS shall be vested with the following powers: 
a. 
To establish, install, use, and maintain national, regional, provincial 
and community- stations 
for 
television 
and 
radio 
broadcasting 
throughout and any part of the country. 
b. 
To provide, equip, and maintain studios and other premises for 
television and radio production and broadcasting purposes; 
To accept advertising materials for television and radio broadcasting 
upon payment of such charges as may be determined from time to 
time by the PPBS, and to determine the conditions subject to which 
the said advertisements may be accepted for transmission; 
To enter into joint ventures or partnerships with other broadcasting 
authorities 
and 
stations 
or 
international 
agencies 
or 
private 
organizations for the purpose of promoting its broadcasting services; 
c. 
d. 
e. 
To utilize all its properties in such manner as it may deem and 
proper including the raising of loans by mortgaging such property; 
f. 
To 
receive 
gifts, 
subsidies, 
donations 
and 
contributions from 
corporations, trusts, foundations, 
associations and other private 
sources and from any government agency or corporation; 
g. 
To raise, borrow or obtain funds, from any source, private or 
government, foreign or domestic, and to enter into any financial or 


h. 
I. 
j. 
k. 
credit arrangements in order to support or carry out objectives and 
purposes, 
subject 
to 
the 
pertinent laws 
governing debt 
and 
expenditure. 
To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every kind 
and description in furtherance of its purposes with any person, firm, 
association or corporations; 
To acquire, hold, mortgage and alienate personal and real property 
in the Philippines; 
To purchase, hold, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of its 
assets or any bond, security of other corporations or associations, 
and while the owner of said stock, to exercise all the rights of 
ownership, including the rights of ownership, including the right to 
vote thereon; and 
To exercise such other powers as may be necessary to carry-out 
the purposes for which the PPBS was established or which from 
time to time may be declared by the Board of Directors to 
be 
necessary, 
useful, 
incidental or 
auxiliary 
to 
accomplish 
such 
purposes. 
SECTION 7. The Board of Directors. 
a. 
b. 
C. 
d. 
The affairs and business of the as created under this Act shall be 
directed by a Board of Directors to be composed of seven members. 
All members of the Board shall be appointed by the President of 
The Republic of the Philippines, chosen from among the nominees of 
associations 
and organizations representing various sectors in the 
broadcasting industry, and shall serve on a full-time basis, with a 
fixed term of six years without reappointment. Each member shall 
be taken from the private sector, of proven and unquestionable 
probity, integrity, honesty and reputation, and preferably with at least 
five (5) years experience in broadcasting media or its related fields. 
The following sectors shall be assured of representation in the Board of 
Directors: 
(1 ) 
the Academe; 
(2) 
(3) 
labor, as involved in the Broadcasting Industry; and 
the viewer and consumer sector. 
The initial appointees of the President of the Republic of the 
Philippines shall have the following terms; 


(I) The Chairman of the Board, and one (I) 
director for six 
years; 
(2) 
Two (2) directors for four (4) years; 
(3) 
Two (2) directors for two (2) years; 
(4) 
The Network General Manager for three (3) years; 
All the subsequent appointees shall have the term of six (6) 
years. However, the employees’ representative shall have a term of 
only one (I) 
year. 
e. 
All members of the Board shall not hold any other elective or 
appointive government position. If a member shall be appointed to 
another government office or runs for any elective position, he shall 
be deemed to have vacated membership to the Board. Neither may 
each Director, in any way, directly or Sindirectly, be connected with 
any other broadcasting corporation. These prohibitions shall apply to 
all directors, except the director representing the employees of the 
Corporation. 
f. 
The Board shall meet at least once a month to discuss matters of 
policy in order to effectively carry out provisions of this act. 
g. 
The Board of Directors shall, likewise, submit a comprehensive 
annual report to the 
President of the Republic of the Philippines 
and to both Houses of Congress on the operations of the PPBS, 
which shall include the annual financial statement, within sixty(60) 
days of the fiscal year. 
SECTION 8. Functions and Duties of the Board of Directors. The 
general functions and duties of the Board of Directors shall be as follows: 
a, 
b. 
To carry out the provisions of this Act; 
The Board shall appoint and fix the salaries of all executive officers, 
inclusive of the Board, and other officials and employees as may be 
necessary for the management and internal administration of the 
Corporation, except that the appointing power may be delegated by 
the Board to the management of the corporation; 
C. 
The Board shall establish the Television and Radio Division and 
such other divisions and or departments in the corporation as may 
be necessary for the accomplishment of its corporate purpose; 


d. 
The Board shall prescribe the compensation payable to its personnel 
employed and no person so employed shall be paid otherwise than 
in accordance with such rates. The 
oard shall see to it that such 
rate of compensation is competitive with the salaries of persons 
employed in the private sector engaged in the same kind of 
business. 
The PPBS shall be subject to all applicable auditing procedures and 
rules of the Commission on Audit; Provided that, the Board of 
Directors shall appoint a Comptroller for purposes of pre-auditing. 
e. 
SECTION 
9. The Network General Manager. 
The Network General 
Manager shall be nominated and elected by the Board of Directors. He shall be 
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall be responsible for the 
proper administration and management of the PPBS in accordance with the 
policies laid down by the Board. He shall have a term of office of three (3) 
years. 
If the Network General Manager is temporarily absent, or is temporarily 
incapacitated by reason of illness, or for any other cause is temporarily unable 
to perform his duties, the Board of Directors may designate an officer-in-charge 
to act in his place during any such absence from duty. 
Section I O .  Powers and Functions of the General Manager. Subject to 
the control and supervision of the Board, the Network General Manager 'shall 
have the following powers and functions: 
a. 
b. 
C. 
d. 
e. 
Submit policy recommendations and propose measures necessary to 
carry out the objectives and functions of the 
PPBS for the 
considerations of the Board; 
Recommend to the Board for approval an organizational structure 
and plantilla for personnel of the PPBS, in accordance with existing 
laws, rules and regulations; 
Execute, administer and implement policies and measures approved 
by the Board; 
Submit to the Board an annual budget and such supplemental 
budgets as may be necessary for its consideration and approval; 
Represent the PPBS, make dealings with other persons, entities, 
agencies and institutions, whether public or private, domestic or 
foreign, subject to the limitations and coqditions herein provided; 


f. 
Appoint, subject to the confirmation by the Board, discipline or 
remove for cause officers and personnel of the PPBS, in accordance 
with the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations. 
Perform such other functions and duti s which are purely managerial 
or routinary by nature, and those which may be assigned to him by 
the Board or other competent authority. 
g. 
SECTION ?I. 
Deputy General Managers. 
There shall be a Deputy 
General Manager for Television and a Deputy Manager for Radio who shall be 
appointed by the Board of directors, upon the recommendation of the Network 
General Manager. They shall be persons known and respected in their respected 
fields of expertise. 
CHAPTER HI 
PROGFSAMS STANDARD 
SECTION 
12 . General Program Standards. An Ad-Hoc Consultative 
Body shalt be created by the Board of Directors and shall be mandated to set 
up a Code of Standards applicable for the PPBS. The Consultative Body shall 
be composed of two members coming from the artistic sector, two representatives 
from the management of the PPBS, two representatives from the rank and file, 
two representatives from the consumer sector, two individuals of good standing in 
the community and of proven moral integrity, and a member of the Board of 
Directors, to be designated by the Board, who shall be Chairman of said body 
and have no voting right, except in case ties. Said body shall formulate subject 
to the approval of the Board of Directors, and within ninety (90) days from its 
constitution, the Code of Standards, inclusive of the following aspects: 
a) 
Presentation of News 
b) 
Educational Programs 
c) 
Agriculture and Livelihood Programs 
d) 
e) 
Children's Program 
f) 
Promotion of Filipino Talents, and 
g) 
The Code shall apply for three years and shall automatically be renewable 
upon expiration by the constitution of the new Consultative Body following the 
above procedures. 
Promotion of Women and Youth Issues 
Public Affairs Programs, Services and Announcements. 


SECTION 
13. 
Paid Announcements. All broadcasts on any broadcast 
station belonging to PPBS for which monetary or any valuable consideration is 
directly or indirectly given, paid-for, provided or charge by the station shall the 
time the same is so broadcast, be announced as paid for or furnished, as the 
case may be, by the person requesting the broadcast. Nothing in this section 
shall preclude the PPBS from requiring that an appropriate announcement be 
made at the broadcast in the case of any political program or that which 
involves the discussion of any controversial issue, for which any film, record, 
transcription, talent, script, or other material service of any kind has been 
furnished, with or without the payment of a nominal charge as an inducement 
to the broadcast of such program. 
SECTION ’I 4. 
Locally-produced Programs. The PPBS shall encourage 
the local production of programs shown in broadcasting stations. In this regard, 
a majority of all shows are to be locally produced specifically for the purpose. 
For the purpose of this section, “locally produced shall mean majority of the 
performers are to be Filipinos and the materials used for production are to be 
acquired locally. 
SECTION 15. Foreign-Produced Programs. All foreign produced programs 
Shown by the PPBS are to be subject to the Code of Standards as formulated 
by the Consultative Body. The PPBS shall assume responsibility for the contents 
of such programs shown in the station. 
SECTION 16. Use of Block-Timers. The PPBS shall assume joint and 
several responsibility with each of the authorized producers, for the content of all 
programs shown by blocktimers. In this regard, blocktimers are 
to mean 
producers who purchase and make use of airtime from broadcasting stations. 
SECTION 
17. 
Time 
Standards 
for 
Non-Program 
Materials. 
The 
Consultative Body shall likewise formulate policies and guidelines for time 
standards for non-program materials. 
CHAPTER IW 
RADIO AND TELEVISION NETWORKING 
SECTION 18. National Radio and Television Stations. 
There shall be 
established separate National Radio and Television Stations to be situated within 


the Metro Manila Area. They shall serve as the sole national vehicle for the 
PPBS to fulfill its purposes and objectives a mandated of this Act. It shall also 
serve as the base station for the different regional and provincial radio and 
television stations. 
SECTION 19. Regional Radio and Television Station . There shall be 
established separate regional Radio and Television stations, to be situated within 
the regional center as determined by the PPB , They shall serve as the'sole 
regional vehicle for the PPBS to fulfill its purposes and objectives as mandated 
in this Act. For the purposes of this section, the National Radio and Television 
Stations shall serve as the Regional Radio and Television Stations of the 
Metropolitan Manila Area. 
SECTION 20. Provincial Radio Stations. 
There shall be established a 
Provincial Radio Station, to be situated within the provincial capital area. It shall 
serve as the sole provincial vehicle 
for the PPBS to fulfill its purposes and 
objectives as mandated in this Act. 
SECTION 21. 
Rationalization of Existing Broadcasting Stations. Upon 
approval of this Act, the PPBS shall rationalize and reorganize existing 
government-owned or controlled broadcasting stations to fulfill the mandate of this 
Act. 
CHAPTE 
INCENTIVES TO THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY 
SECTION 22. Production of Government 
Program . 
All departments, 
agencies, or instrumentalities of the national government, including government- 
owned or 
controlled corporations with 
or 
without 
original charters, 
shall 
appropriate an amount not exceeding two (2%) percent of its total budget for the 
production of educational, civic and community service programs by the PPBS 
which will promote the thrusts and objectives of the said government body. This 
shall be subject to the following guidelines: 
(a) 
That the broadcast shall be limited to the educational, civic, or 
community service programs for particular town, community or 
province; 
That broadcasts made shall not promote the individual welfare or 
Personality belonging to the said government body. 
(b) 


(c) 
That the government body shall submit to the Commission on Audit 
an itemized explanation of the expenses made for the production of 
said program. 
SECTION 23. Production Grants. The PPB 
shall set aside ten percent 
(10%) of its annual budget for the grants to be given to programs produced by 
any local broadcasting company, firm or corporation that have shown over-all 
artistic excellence and projected true Filipino values. Towards this end, a 
Committee of Five composed of two respected members of the Artistic 
community, the General Manager of the PPBS, a representative from the 
academe shall decide on the standards and the recipients of said grants. 
SECTION 24. Donations. Gifts and donation to the Philippine Public 
Broadcasting System which are intended to improve the 
technical quality of 
broadcast programs shall be exempted from any tax, 
import duty or post: 
Provided that, the PPBS shall distribute at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the 
total yearly gifts or donations to deserving private broadcasting stations rendering 
public or community service, as determined by the Committee created in the 
previous section; Provided further that, any imposition made by any individual or 
agency shall be allowed only once every two years; Provided finally, that the 
PPBS shall issue the necessary rules and guidelines in consultation with all 
concerned parties. 
CHAPTER VI 
G E N E RAL PRQVlS 10 NS 
SECTION 
25. 
Transfer of Functions and Assets. 
All the powers, 
functions, assets, capital, accounts, contracts, and facilities under the People’s 
Television (PW) 4, and 
the various radio stations under the auspices of the 
Bureau of Broadcasts are hereby transferred to the PPBS. 
The PPBS shall exercise all 
the necessary powers and duties in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act, and shall administer, dispose of, 
handle and execute said funds, properties, capital, assets, accounts, contracts 
and/or agreements in the manner the PPBS shall determine in the interest of the 
funds concerned, and the PPBS shall assume all liabilities of the above- 
mentioned agencies as such, or as trustees, as the case may be. The Agencies 
concerned shall stand abolished on the date the PPBS shall begin its operations. 


SECTION 
26. 
APPROPRIATIONS. A parcel of 
alienable public land 
located within Metro Manila with an area sufficient to cover required areas for 
studios and a transmitting antenna is hereby transferred in ownership to the 
PPBS. 
An initial appropriation of Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200,000,000) shall 
be released from funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated as 
initial funding of the PPBS; Provided that, the sum of Five Hundred Million 
Pesos (P500,000,000.00) shall be allocated from the National 
udget ofthe year 
following the approval of this Act as revolving trust fund for the maintenance 
and operation of the PPBS; Provided further, that the current fiscal appropriation 
for the Bureau of Broadcast Services absorbed by the Public Broadcasting 
System in accordance with Section 33 herein shall be maintained, until the 
PPBS set up hereunder becomes operational and has raised tip funds necessary 
for operational purposes of the System. All fees and other revenues collected or 
received by the PPBS shall be retained by it to finance its annual budget 
requirements. 
SECTION 27. Government Accounts. The PPBS address primarily the 
need of all government-owned and -controlled corporations and other agencies 
which need advertising services. Said Broadcasting System shall have the right 
to 
refuse to accept such accounts, and only then will the said Government 
Corporation be able to place their advertising requirements with private entities. 
SECTION 28. Additional Sources of Funding. 
Funding for the PPBS 
shall also be derived from the following : 
a) 
revenue derived from tax on all television sets sold in the 
Philippines to be computed at fifty pesos (P50.00) for monochromatic 
television sets, and Two hundred pesos (P200.00) for colored 
television sets. 
Revenue derived from a tax on all radio sets sold in the Philippines 
to be computed at Ten (P10.00) for transistor radios, Thirty Pesos 
(P30.00) for cassette players, and One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) for 
standard stereo systems. 
b) 
SECTION 29. Record of Transactions. The PPBS shall keep proper 
accounts and records of all its transactions and affairs, and shall do all things 
necessary to ensure that all payments made out of its moneys are correctly 
made and properly authorized, and that adequate control is maintained over the 


assets of, 'or in the custody of the PPBS and over the expenditures incurred by 
the PPBS. The PPBS shall be subject to audit by the Commission on Audit. 
SECTION 30. Tax Exemption . 
All the importation of equipment and 
materials in pursuing the objectives of this Act, whether purchased from or 
donated by any foreign government and/or private entity shall be free from the 
payment of any and all forms of taxes, license fees, and customs duties that 
may be levied upon them. 
Such equipment shall include, but not limited to, 
cameras, TV monitors and records, radio and TV transmitters, electronic tubes, 
editing machines, and the like. 
SECTION 31. 
Staffing 
Pattern. 
The PPBS, through the Network 
General Manager or his authorized representative, may make such rules not 
inconsistent with 
the 
provisions of 
this 
Charter, 
concerning the 
hiring, 
appointment, employment, promotion, disciplinary control, and other terms and 
conditions of the service of all employed by the PPBS, and other such matters 
affecting its employees. 
SECTION 
32. 
Salary Scale. The PPBS shall prescribe the rates of 
remuneration 
payable to the various classes of personnel employed by it, and 
no person so employed shall be paid otherwise than in accordance with such 
rates. 
The PPBS shall see to it that such rates or remuneration shall be 
competitive with the salaries of persons employed in the private sector engaged 
in the same kind of business. 
SECTION 
. 33. Exemption from Government Staffing Pattern. 
The 
salaries and position classification of the officers, and employees of the PPBS 
shall not be subject to the rules and regulations emanating from the Office of 
the Compensation and Position Classification, owing to the special nature of the 
broadcasting industry. 
SECTION 34. Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder shall not be affected thereby 
and shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 
35. 
Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
administrative orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof 
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 


SECTION 
36. 
Effectivity Clause. 
This Act shall take effect within 
fifteen (15) days from the date of publication in two newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved.