Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo.__ 1542

Introduced by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers

AN ACT
REQUIRING BROADCAST MEDIA TO ALLOCATE ADEQUATE FREE AIRTIME FOR
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON VITAL PUBLIC ISSUES AND CONCERNS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A thriving democracy needs an engaged and informed citizenry. The proponents of the 1987
Philippine Constitution underscored this notion in Section 24, Article I, which states that the State
recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.

Laws that grant broadcasting corporations a franchise to construct, install, operate and maintain
television and radio broadcasting stations in the country mandate these companies to provide
adequate public service time to enable the government to reach the people on important public:
issues and assist in the functions of public information and education. This simply means that
these corporations are required to serve in the public interest. However, the franchise given to
them doesn't stipulate a preset number of hours and the reality is that these companies do not
always comply. Hence, the need to establish the Public Service Announcement Act.

This bill requires all broadcast media to allocate adequate media time for public service
announcements, free of charge, of at least two (2) minutes per hour of broadcast to enable the
government to effectively reach out to the people, educate and increase their awareness, and
disseminate information on matters of public concern.

Under this bill, all government departments, bureaus, offices, agencies or instrumentalities under
the Executive Branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations, are enjoined to
utilize, cooperate and avail of the benefits under this Act.

In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

HON. ROBERT At BARBERS
2" District, del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1542

Introduced by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers

AN ACT
REQUIRING BROADCAST MEDIA TO ALLOCATE ADEQUATE FREE AIRTIME FOR
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON VITAL PUBLIC ISSUES AND CONCERNS

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 “Public Service
Announcement Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of
communication and information in nation-building, and the influence, breadth, and
accessibility of broadcast media to reach the population on important public issues.
Towards this end, the State shall adopt measures to implement an integrated approach
to enable the government to reach the people and keep them well-informed and cognizant
of the issues and concerns affecting them.

SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all radio and television broadcast
media.

For purposes of this Act, broadcast media refers to radio, television and cable
networks engaged in the business of distributing audio and video content to a dispersed
audience via any audio, mass, digital or online communication media.

SEC. 4. Public Service Announcement. - A public service announcement is a non-
commercial broadcast advertisement for radio and television for the purpose of educating
the public on a particular topic to generate awareness and disseminate information on
matters of public interest.

The public service announcement under this Act shall also include a contact
number, an email address and a website where the public may obtain more in-depth
information on the issue covered by the public service announcement.

SEC. 5. Allocation for Public Service Announcements. - To fulfill the obligation of
broadcast media to render public service under their franchises, all broadcast media are


required to allocate adequate media time for public service announcements, free of
charge, of at least two (2) minutes per hour of broadcast to enable the government to
effectively reach out to the people, educate and increase their awareness, and
disseminate information on matters of public concern, including the following:

(a) Drug abuse and prevention;
(b) Education;

(c) _ Environmental issues;

(d) Good values;

(e) Health;

(0) Laws;

(g) Public safety;

(h) Road and traffic discipline;
(i) Welfare rights and benefit
() Disaster preparedness; and

(k) Other matters for public awareness.

SEC. 6. Production of Public Service Announcements. - The Philippine
Information Agency shall produce public service announcements designed to promote
and inform the public on the latest issues, announcements, warnings, plans and
programs of the government to be aired by the broadcast media.

The public service announcement under this Act shall be non-commercial, non-
denominational and non-political.

Public announcements involving public figures running for elective posts in the
elections shall be subject to existing election laws and COMELEC promulgations on
media use.

SEC. 7. Availment by Government Agencies. - All government departments,
bureaus, offices, agencies or instrumentalities under the Executive Branch, including
government-owned and controlled corporations, are enjoined to utilize, cooperate and
avail of the benefits under this Act.

SEC. 8. Penalty. — The failure of any covered broadcast media to provide the
required public service time under this Act shall be a ground for the suspension,
revocation, or non-renewal of license to operate television and radio networks.

SEC. 9. Monitoring. - The Presidential Communications Operations Office, in
cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency, and the National
Telecommunications Commission shall monitor the compliance of covered broadcast
media with the provisions of this Act.

They shall submit a quarterly report to the Senate of the Philippines and House of
Representatives on the compliance of broadcast media and the implementation of this
Act.


SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of
this Act shall be charged to the current year’s appropriations of the Presidential
Communications and Operations Office and National Telecommunications Commission.
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the
approval of this Act, the National Telecommunications Commission and the Presidential
Communications and Operations Office shall, in coordination with the Kapisanan ng mga
Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations shall include the
determination of time standards for public service announcements of government
agencies, offices or instrumentalities.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
tules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.