SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S.No. 
2997 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'1~) 
nCT 29 P 4 :24 
TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR PROPAGANDA 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Sections 27 and 28 provide that: 
Section 27. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the 
public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and 
corruption. 
Section 28. Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the 
State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its 
transactions involving public interest. 
Article 9, Section 1 further provides that: 
Section 1. The public office is a public trust. Public officers and 
employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with 
utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, efficiency, act with patriotism and 
justice, and lead modest lives. 
It is a misguided policy for the State to engage in costly propaganda at the expense 
of the taxpayer in times when the nation's socio-economic recovery is the top priority. 
Politicians use and abuse publicity and the media to associate him or herself with 
government projects for political leverage and personal aggrandizement. Since public 
funds are involved, government propaganda is an easy target for graft and corruption. 
There is therefore, a need for legislation to closely monitor government-funded 
publicity and propaganda. This bill seeks to address this need by prohibiting the use of 
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public funds for government propaganda without legislative consent, and providing penal 
sanctions for violators. l 
L .. ~ ~...-)~ 
MIRIAM DEFEt\SOR SANTI/lib 
~ 
1 This bill was originally filed duriug the Thirteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2997 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'15 
OCT 29 P 4 :24 
'I' "1'" II i'\" L~j 
I' . 
\', \ I.. 
) 
)jf:J~ 
TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR PROPAGANDA 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Govermnent Propaganda 
2 
Prohibition Act". 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State, in line with the 
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principle that public office is a public trust, to monitor the use of government funds by 
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public officials and ensure that they are not used for personal propaganda or publicity. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes ofthis Act, the term 
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A. "Advertisement" means a communication disseminated in any form, 
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including speech, print, or by any electronic means; 
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B. "Covered contract" means a contract with an executive agency for 
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public relations, media relations, advertising, or public opinion 
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research services, or any subcontract for such services under a 
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government contract; 
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C. "Executive agency" means an executive department or a government 
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agency; 
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D. "Government" 
includes 
the 
National 
Government, 
the 
local 
16 
governments, the government-controlled corporations, and all other 
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instrumentalities or agencies of the Republic of the Philippines and 
their branches; 
E. "Propaganda" includes 
1. Any message designed to aid a political party or candidate; 
2. Any message with the purpose of self-aggrandizement or puffery 
of the Administration, agency, executive branch programs or 
policies, or pending congressional legislation; 
3. A news release or other publication that does not clearly identify 
the government agency directly or indirectly (through a 
contractor) financially responsible for the message; 
4. Any audio or visual presentation that does not continuously and 
clearly identifY the government agency directly or indirectly 
financially responsible for the message; 
5. An internet message that does not continuously and clearly 
identifY the government agency directly or indirectly financially 
responsible for the message; 
6. A message of nature tending to emphasize the importance of the 
agency or its activities; 
7. A message that is so misleading or inaccurate that it constitutes 
propaganda; and 
8. The preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, 
booklet, publication, radio, television, or video presentation 
designed to support or defeat legislation pending before 
Congress, except in presentation to Congress. 
F. 
"Public officer" includes elective and appointive officials and 
employees, permanent or temporary, whether in the classified, or 
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unclassified or exemption of service receiving compensation, even 
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nominal, from the government as defined in the preceding sub-
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paragraph. 
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SECTION 4. Prohibition on Unauthorized Expenditure of Government Funds for 
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Publicity or Propaganda Purposes. -
An officer or employee of the Philippine 
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government may not make or authorize an expenditure or obligation of funds for 
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publicity or propaganda purposes unless authorized by law. 
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SECTION 5. Requirement for Disclosure of Sponsorship of all Government 
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Advertising or Other Communication Materials. -
Each advertisement or other 
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communication paid for by an executive agency, either directly or through a contract 
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awarded by the executive agency, shall include a prominent notice informing the target 
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audience that the advertisement or other communication is paid for by that executive 
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agency. 
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SECTION 6. Notification to Congress Regarding Certain Contracts. -
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A. Requirement to notify Congress regarding certain contracts. - Not later 
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than 30 days after entering into a covered contract, an Executive 
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agency shall submit to each covered congressional committee a written 
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notification containing the name of the contractor, the amount of the 
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contract, the purpose of the contract, a summary of the statement of 
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work for the contract, and any other information the agency considers 
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relevant. 
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B. Requirement to submit other information upon request. - Upon request 
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by the Chairperson of any covered Congressional Committee, an 
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executive agency that provided a notification under subsection (A) for 
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a covered contract shall provide the following to the person making the 
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request: 
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1. A copy of the covered contract; 
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2. Any modifications to the covered contract; and any materials 
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produced under the covered contract. 
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SECTION 7. Enforcement of Prohibition on Publicity or Propaganda. -
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A. Responsibilities of the Ombudsman. -
The Ombudsman shall 
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investigate any violation of subsection (A). If the Ombudsman finds 
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that a person has violated or is violating subsection (A), the 
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Ombudsman may bring a civil action under this Section against the 
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person. 
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B. Competent Court. - Until otherwise provided by law, all prosecutions 
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under this Act shall be within the original jurisdiction of the 
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Sandiganbayan. 
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SECTION 8. Penalties. -
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A. Adverse Personnel Action. - An officer or employee of the Philippine 
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government violating subsection (A) shall be subject to appropriate 
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administrative discipline including, when circumstances warrant, 
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suspension from duty without payor removal from office; 
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B. Criminal Penalty. -
An officer or employee of the Philippine 
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government who knowingly and wilfully violates subsection (A) shall 
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be fined not less than P250,OOO and not more than P500,OOO, 
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imprisoned for not more than five (5) years plus three (3) times the 
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amount of funds appropriated. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
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provisions hereof. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
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portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
iaml2015 
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