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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1415
HOUSE BILL NO. .

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As a democratic country, the State must always ensure that all citizens have access to
news and information.

Under the Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Persons with
Disabilities (PWDs), TV stations are encouraged to pravide subtitles or sign language insets in
newscasts and TV programs: encouraged, but not required

The Philippine Government already took the first steps in making telecommunications
and mass media available to persons with hearing disabilities through the approval of Republic
Act No. 10905 which requires the TV franchise holders, operators and producers to provide
closed captions in the broadcast of their programs. Itis important to note, however, that this law
may not be fully equipped to empower our PWDs, The law exempts television stations from
complying with the closed captioning requirement on certain instances like when a public
service announcement is shorter than ten minutes or when compliance would be economically
burdensome. In addition, our deaf brothers and sisters prefer the sign language interpretation
as their mode of accessibility for TV programs as it can convey not only the text of the
information but can also express the feelings and intensity of the communicator when the
interpreter matches his or her manual movements with facial expressions.

The provision of Filipino Sign Language inset during the 2016 Presidential and Vice-
Presidential debates was proven crucial to the recently-concluded elections, The national
candidates were able to communicate their platforms to the 7,786 registered voters with hearing
disabilities. Furthermore, this initiative fostered intelligent conversations with the deaf
community and empowered them to make informed decisions last May elections.

Information is power: we must foster an inclusive society when sharing information and
make sure that our PWDs are not left behind in the national discourse.

This bill seeks to require the use of Filipino sign language insets for local news programs.

Inline of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is urged.

‘ALFRED VARGAS



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1415
HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

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 (PWDs)

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

CTION 1. This Act shall be known as “The Filipino Sign Language in Broadcast
Media Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Filipino Sign Language in Broadcast Media,~ Section 22 of Republic Act No,
7277, as amended, otherwise known as the " Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities
(PWDs)", is hereby further amended to read as follows

SEC. 22, Broadcast Media, - ALL FREE-TO-AIR television stations fshal-be
encouraged} ARE REQUIRED to provide [a] FILIPINO sign language insets
in at least fone} TWO (2) newscast programs a day and special
programs covering events of national

significance,

THE FREE-TO-AIR TELEVISION MAY LIKEWISE OPT TO PROVIDE FOR
FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE INSETS IN OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS THOSE
PERTAINING TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, LIVELIHOOD AND THOSE
CATERING TO CHILDREN.

SEC. 3. Penalties. - Any franchise holder or operator of television stations and
producers of television programs, who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall be
punished by a fine not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00), but not more than One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 100,000.00), or by imprisonment of not less than six (6)
months, but more than one (1) year, or both at the discretion of the court.


Incase the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or any other juridical
person, the president, manager, administrator, or person-in-charge of the management of
the business shall be liable therefor. In addition, the license or permit to operate its business
shall be cancelled

SEC, 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) and the Movie and
Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), in consultation with other concerned
agencies and entities, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations, other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act hereby repealed or amended
accordingly,

SEC, 6, Separability Clause, - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, other
parts or provisions thereof not affected thereby shall remain and continue to be in full force
and effect.

SEC. 7, Effectivity, ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation

Approved.