17 JUN 2014
Pi

Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.___ 4641

Introduced by Honorable Evelina G. Escudero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill requires all broadcast media to provide public service time to
enable the government to reach the population and educate the people on
important public issues relative to health, road and traffic discipline, public
safety, good values, welfare rights and benefits, and disaster preparedness
programs.

Section 24, Article II of the Constitution provides that:

“SEC. 24. The State recognizes the vital role of

communication and information in nation building.”

The capability of broadcast media in disseminating information
through live and recorded coverage cannot be overstated. Its influence in
shaping public perceptions and behavior, changing social attitudes and
bringing about social integration is highly recognized.

Broadcast media is the best tool to relay information and motivate
people to participate in nation building. It is the most effective vehicle to
carry out the government’s ultimate goal to promote the objectives of sound
government.

Health, road and traffic discipline, good values, public safety, welfare
rights and benefits and disaster preparedness are matters of public interest
and concern because of their significant effects on safety and on the social,
economic and moral weil being of the people. The plans and programs of the

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government on these matters must involve the active participation and
cooperation of the people for their effective implementation. Thus, the
government should relay and communicate the public policy on these
matters through the use of the most effective and accessible means, the
broadcast media. «

To promote the efficiency of public service and the principles of good
governance, this measure requires broadcast media to provide public service
time on matters of public interest to advance the plans, programs and
projects of the government and to encourage and motivate the public to
support, participate and cooperate in the implementation and promotion of
these plans, programs and projects.

Further, this initiative will guarantee and confirm the social
responsibility of broadcast media in serving the interest and welfare of the
people. As pointed out by the Supreme Court in the case of
Telecommunications and Broadcast Attorneys of the Philippines, Inc. and
GMA Network, Inc, vs, Commission on Elections (G.R. No, 132922, April
21, 1998), “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."

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

EVELINA G, ESCUDERO


Republic of the Philippines
Hous Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL.NO, ___ 4644

Introduced by Honorable Evelina G, Escudero

AN ACT

REQUIRING ALL BROADCAST MEDIA TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE
PUBLIC SERVICE TIME TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO
REACH THE POPULATION AND EDUCATE THE PEOPLE ON
IMPORTANT PUBLIC ISSUES RELATIVE TO HEALTH, ROAD
AND TRAFFIC DISCIPLINE, PUBLIC SAFETY, GOOD VALI
WELFARE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS, AND DISAS ER
PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS

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

SECTION 1. All broadcast media shall provide public service time
of at least two (2) minutes per hour to enable the government to educate and
increase the awareness of the people on the following matters:

a) Health;

b) Road and traffic discipline:

c) Public safety;

d) — Good values;

e) Welfare rights and benefits; and

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f) Disaster preparedness programs.

Broadcast media shall elect the subject matter to be featured in a given
time.

For purposes of this Act, broadcast media refer to radio or television
stations engaged in the business of distributing audio and video content to a

dispersed audience via any audio or mass communication media.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall cause the
production of the public service commercials 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.

SEC. 3. Failure of any broadcast media to provide the required
public service time under Section 1 of this Act shall be a ground for
suspension, revocation or non-renewal of license to operate radio or
television station

SEC. 4. Within ninety (90) days from the 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.


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SEC. 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.

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

Approved,