Fifteenth Congress of the Repnblic 
of the Philippines 
First Regnlar Session 
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SENATE 
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Introdnced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Statistics showed that there is an estimated 4.5 million deaf Filipinos, most of them, have 
no access to programs that will help them realize their full potentials. One of the major 
accessibility concerns of deaf or hard of hearing people is there access to public information 
which will hamper their active participation on matters of public concerns. 
Considering the importance of television in the daily lives of every individual, this bill 
proposes to require all franchise holders or operators of television networks or stations, 
producers of television news programs to have these news programs broadcast with closed 
caption and providing penalties for violation thereof. 
The passage of this bill will address the constitutional mandate for the state to recognize 
the basic right of the people to information on matters of public concern. 
Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


Fifteenth Congress of the Republic 
Of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.~No. ,28 
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Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL OWNERS OR OPERATORS OF TELEVISION NETWORKS OR 
STATIONS AND PRODUCERS OF TELEVISION NEWS PROGRAMS TO HAVE 
THEIR NEWS PROGRAMS BROADCAST WITH CLOSED-CAPTION AND 
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Closed-captioning of New Programs. - All owners or operators of television 
networks or stations and producers of television programs are required to have their newscast or 
news programs, which are national and regional in scope with closed-caption in order to benefit 
persons with hearing disabilities: Provided, however, that the words of the close-captioning will 
be in the language spoken in the same program. 
Section 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
(1) "Closed-caption" shall refer to the method of subtitling television programs by coding 
statements as vertical interval data signal that are decoded at the receiver and 
superimposed at the bottom of the television screen. 
(2) "Newscast" or "News Programs" shall refer only to report of happenings of recent 
occurrence of a varied character, such as political, social, moral, religious and other 
subjects intended for the information of the general public. It shall also refer to straight 
news reporting as distinguished from news analyses or editorials, commentaries and 
opmlOns. 
Section 3. Penalties. - Any owner or operator of television networks or stations and any 
producer of television news programs who shall violate the provision of Section 1 shall be 
punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (pSO, 000.00) but not more than One 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PIOO, 000.00), or by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but 
not more than one (1) year or both such fme and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 
If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or any other judicial person, 
the president, manager, administrator or the person-in-charge of the management of the business 
shall be liable therefore. In addition, the license or permit to operate the business shall be 
cancelled. 
Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The National Telecommunication 
Commission and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, in consultation 
with concerned agencies and entities, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
effective implementation ofthis Act. 
Section 5. Separability Cause. - If any provision of this Act is hereby declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other sections or provisions thereof shalt not be affected thereby. 
Approved,