Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._4780

Introduced by Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dit

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The power of mass media in this day and age is one that should be regarded as an
influential one. It can make or destroy anything. It is therefore the vision of this bill to
check this power when it comes to generalizing words that somehow affect related
entities connected to the term being used.

The excessive use of “Lanao” to describe the areas of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del
Sur and Iligan City in various media platforms should be prohibited. There should be a
distinction in describing and naming the three different provinces and it is imperative to
use their proper names in reporting news pertaining to the respective political entities. It
should be the responsibility of the media outfit to ensure the distinction between the three
places so as tonot make a negative connotation in a sweeping generalization. Responsible
media and journalism should be championed by our local media outlets. This bill seeks
to penalize media practitioners in generalizing the word “Lanao” in describing the two
distinct Provinces and Higan City.

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

MOHA) LID Q. PORO

First District, Lanao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._ 4780

Introduced ‘ep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF THE WORD “LANAO” TO GENERALIZE
THE AREA IN THE PROVINCES OF LANAO DEL NORTE, LANAO DEL SUR AND
ILIGAN CITY IN MASS MEDIA AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Prohibited Act. It is hereby declared unlawful for any person to use in mass.
media the word “Lanao” to generally describe the areas of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del
Sur and ligan City.

The word Lanao del Norte shall be used to describe the Province of Lanao
del Norte;

The word Lanao del Sur shalll be used to describe the Province of Lanao del
Sur;

Iligan City shall be used to describe the City of Iligan.

SECTION 2. Penalties. The Penalty of arresto mayor or a fine ranging from Five
Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) to Ten Thousand Pesos (P 10,000.00), or both, at the discretion
of the courts, shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of violating Section 1 hereof.

The editor-in-chief, in the case of print media, and the news editor in the
case of broadcast media and other forms of mass media, shall be imposed a fine not lower
than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00).

The juridical entity violating this Act shall be imposed a fine not lower than
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) for every violation.

For the second and succeeding offenses, the penalties shall be doubled.


SECTION 3. Implementing Rules. The Philippine Information Agency, in coordination
with the concerned sectors and entities, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to
implement this Act within three months after its effectivity.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations of parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or
amended accordingly.

Approved,