SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENAT'2117 
S.B. No. __ 
----' 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE USE OF FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE INSETS FOR LOCAL NEWS PROGRAMS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 22 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDsl" 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In a truly inclusive society, the welfare of the poor and the marginalized are always 
upheld, and nobody gets left behind in the push for development. 
In the same vein, a society that values transparency must always ensure that 
information transmitted through mass media is made accessible especially to the more 
~ulnerable sectors of society, especially persons with disabilities (PWDs) and those with hearing 
impairments. 
This bill seeks to require the broadcast of television programs and showing of motion 
pictures and other audio-visual presentation with "closed captions" (CC), and providing 
penalties of violation thereofto respond to the needs of hearing-impaired individuals. 
"Closed captioning", as defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of 
the United States government, "allows persons with hearing disabilities to have access to 
television programming by displaying the audio portion of a television program as text on the 
television screen."i 
Moreover, the FCC website states that closed captioning "provides a critical link to 
news, entertainment and information for [the hearing-impaired] ... Captions also help improve 
literacy skills." 
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) states: "The prevalence of disabl,ing 
hearing loss in children is greatest in South Asia, Asia Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa," with the 
Asia Pacific as the region with the second highest incidence next to South Asia, Moreover, "In 
children, prevalence decreases exponentially as gross national income per capita (GNI) 
increases," and "in most regions, prevalence in children decreases linearly as parent's literacy 
rate increases." Meanwhile, "in adults of 65 years and older, prevalence decreases 
exponentially as income increases."2 
1 Federal Communications Commission website, United States govermnent htto://www,fcc.gov/guides/closed-
captioning. Last accessed on February 5,2014. 
2 World Health Organization. "WHO global estimates on prevalence of hearing loss." Mortality and Burden of 
Diseases and Prevention of Blindness and Deafuess Conference, 2012. 
htto://www.who.intJpbd/deafuess/WHO GE HL.pdf. Last accessed on February 5,2014. 


This means that a poor individuals that are either deaf, mute or hard of hearing have a 
lesser chance of accessing information through mass media. 
In the Philippines, 1.23% of the entire population is either deaf, mute, or hearing-
impaired. As of 2009, the projected deaf population is already at 241,624 for those who are 
totally deaf, and 275,9J.2 for those who are partially deaf. That means that at least 517,536 
people currently have very limited access to media and information because of their hearing 
impaired ness. 
We firmly believe that, as the late great President Ramon Magsaysay had said, "those 
who have less in life should have more in law." Therefore, this bill seeks to provide to hearing-
impaired Filipinos a luxury which many of us take for granted. 
By making closed captioning compulsory for all franchise holders of operators of 
television stations, producers of television programs, home video programs, and motion 
pictures, we seek to open access to information, learning, and entertainment to Filipinos who 
are currently denied this basic right. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
/~/lA_ ~w~ 
senato~;;;gno "Bf" A. Aquino IV 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENAT; 
.., 
S.B. No. :'.11 ( 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT 
'14 
FEB 11 
REQUIRING THE USE OF FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE INSETS FOR LOCAL NEWS 
PROGRAMS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 22 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, 
AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITIES (PWDs)" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as "The Filipino Sign Language Act in Broadcast 
2 
Media of 2014" 
3 
SECTION 2. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, otherwise known as the 
4 
"Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)", is hereby further amended to read 
5 
as follows: 
6 
SEC. 22. Broadcast Media. - ALL FREE-TO-AIR television stations [shall 
7 
.be encouraged] ARE REQUIRED to provide [a] FILIPINO sign language insets, 
8 
and WHERE POSSIBLE, CLOSED CAPTIONS or subtitles in at least [one (1)] TWO 
9 
(2) newscast programs a day and special programs covering events of national 
10 
significance. 
11 
THE FREE-TO-AIR TELEVISION MAY LIKEWISE OPT TO PROVIDE FOR 
12 
FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE INSETS IN OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS THOSE 
13 
PERTAINING TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, LIVELIHOOD AND THOSE CATERING TO 
14 
CHILDREN. 
15 
Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, resolutions, orders, 
. 16 
ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
17 
hereby repealed, amended or modify accordingly. 
18 
SEC. 3. 
Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
19 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. 
20 
Approved,