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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
re:_ 3.0 JUN 2016
Republic of the Philippines al

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TNE
Quezon City, Metro Manila BY!

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS REGISTRATION UNIT
First Regular Session BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

HOUSE BILL No. 197

Introduced by Representatives Manuel Luis T. Lopez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The right to access of information on matters of public concern is guaranteed by no less than the
Constitution's Bill of Rights. Article III, Section 7 of the Philippine Constitution states: “The right
of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official
records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well
as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen,
subject to limitations as may be provided by law’.

The right of Filipinos to information embodies also the principle that public office is a public
trust. Article XI, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution states that “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, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead
modest lives”. Further, in the case of Chavez vs. Public Estates Authority (G.R. No. 133250, 9 July
2002), it was emphasized by the Supreme Court that “unless citizens have the proper
information, they cannot hold public officials accountable for anything’,

The participation of the people and organizations in the democratic process is likewise
guaranteed in Article XIII, Section 16 of the Constitution which states that “The right of the
people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social,
political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged. The State shall, by law, facilitate
the establishment of adequate consultation mechanisms”.

No doubt, the Philippines has many good laws, policies, programs and projects to date,
nationally and locally, but there is a big disconnect in its implementation, compliance, utilization

nd participation of the people, primarily due to lack of public awareness on its existence and
importance. Thus, there is a need for an efficient flow and an improved dissemination of public
information by maximizing the use of mass media at no cost to the government and the public
which will create the necessary trust and understanding in officials and in the system.

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

HON. MANUEL UIST. LOPEZ
Representative, 15 District, City of Manila


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 19?

Introduced by Representatives Manuel Luis T. Lopez

AN ACT
MANDATING ALL TELEVESION NETWORKS, RADIO STATIONS,
NEWSPAPERS, MOVIE THEATERS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO
BROADCAST, PUBLISH, AND ADVERTISE PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR FREE
AS AN IMPROVED INFORMATION DISSEMINATION MECHANISM
OF THE GOVERNMENT TOWARDS A WELL-INFORMED CITIZENRY

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Public Information Act’.

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize
the right of the people to information on matters of public concern and the vital role of
information and communication in nation-building.

The State shall also take all appropriate measures to improve information
dissemination mechanisms of public information to intensify public awareness; to rally
for public support to government efforts; and enhance peoples’ compliance with the
law, participation in activities, utilization of programs and preparedness to respond to
situations,

SEC, 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as
follows:
(a) Local Government Units - refers to cities and municipalities which is an
administrative and political government unit subsidiary to the national
government;

(b) Information Dissemination Mechanisms - refers to mass media used to
disseminate public information such as broadcast media and print media;

(c) Cinema - refers to movie theater;


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(d) Newspaper - refers to a company or organization that publishes a
newspaper which is printed and distributed usually daily or weekly and
that contains news, articles of opinion, features and advertising;

(e) Public Information - refers to up-to-date information on official matters
and of public concern such as, but not limited to: laws, national and local
policies, ordinances, proposed legislations, awareness campaigns, traffic
rules and regulations, new or discontinued products and services;

(8) Radio Station - refers to broadcast type radio network intended to reach a
wide audience and can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a
common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or
both;

(g) Television Network - atelecommunications network for distribution
oftelevision program content, whereby a central operation provides
programming to many television stations or pay television providers; it
shall be referred to in this Act as TV Network,

SEC. 4. Dissemination of Information. - \n coordination with the Presidential
Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Movie and Television Review and
Classification Board (MTRCB), and other concerned agencies, the following are
mandated to:

(a) TV Network - broadcast Public Information for Thirty (30) seconds per
day in the morning and Thirty (30) seconds per day on primetime;

(b) Radio Stations ~ broadcast Public Information for One (1) minute per day;

(¢) Cinema - run a Thirty (30)-second Public Information video prior to film
viewing;

(a) Newspaper - publish Public Information daily, occupying 1/8 of the front

page of the newspaper;

(e) LGUs - advertise Public Information on at least 1 billboard per city and
municipality, the size of which shall not be smaller than thirty-sheet
poster panel (approximately 12 x 25 ft or 3.6 x 7.6 m); it shall be
displayed for Thirty (30) days and shall be replaced thereafter; and it
shall be located on primary or secondary traffic ways.

The broadcast, publication, and advertisement of Public Information shall be at no cost,
whether direct or indirect, to the government.

SEC. 5, Report of Violations, - Any natural or juridical person may report before the
PCOO any violation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Penalties. -


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(a) Any person who gives false or misleading public information, conceals or falsifies
a material fact, in any investigation, inquiry or other proceeding held pursuant to
this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than three (3) months
but not more than six (6) months, and with a fine of not less than Ten Thousand
Pesos (Php 10,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00).
Provided, however, That if the false or misleading public information shall have
been under oath, the maximum penalty for giving false testimony or perjury shall
be imposed;

(b) Any natural or juridical person or corporation who broadcast, publish or
advertise false or misleading public information or violates any provision of this
Act shall be punished with a fine of not less than One Million Pesos (Php
1,000,000.00) but not more than Five Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) and/or a
suspension or revocation of its legislative franchise and other permits and
licenses to operate, upon the discretion of the court. The maximum penalties
prescribed in paragraph (a) shall also be imposed on the members of its board
and/or management, as applicable;

(c) An alien in violation of this Act shall, in addition to the penalty herein provided,
be deported after service of sentence;

(d) All monetary penalties shall directly accrue to the National

easury.

SEC. 6, Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act. The Presidential Communications Operations Office, Philippine
Information Agency, News and Information Bureau, Bureau of Broadcast Servic
National Printing Office, and Bureau of Communications Services, shall promulgate the
rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. Monitoring Agency and Reports, - ‘The PCOO shall supervise and monitor the
implementation of this Act; and shall annually report to the President and Congress on
its activities in carrying out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Amendatory and Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, ordinances, or any parts thereof, inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9, Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting,

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,