FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
=- 
S E N A T E  
I-.. 
S.B. No. 
931 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to require the broadcast of television programs and showing of 
motion pictures and other audio-visual presentations with closed caption and 
providing penalties for violation thereof to respond to the needs of hearing impaired 
individuals. 
Closed-caption is a method of captioning or subtitling of television, home video 
programs and films for hearing-impaired or foreign language viewers without 
interfering with the normal television picture and films, by coding captions as vertical 
interval data signal which is decoded at the receiver and superimposed on the 
television picture or on films of motion pictures. 
With the advances of information technology and the relevance of television 
programs, motion pictures, and other audio-visual presentation as tools or iearning, 
there is a need to enable persons with hearing impairments to take advantage of such 
technology and enjoy audio-visual entertainments with their seemingly unbounded 
innovations. 
This proposed measure aims to address such need by making it compulsory for 
all franchise holders or operators of television stations, producers of television 
programs, home video programs and motion pictures to have their programs and films 
broadcast with closed captions. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 
931 
-7 JUI. -4 
A8 :46 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL FRANCHISE HOLDERS OR OPERATORS OF TELEVIS/ON 
STA'I'IONS, PRODUCERS OF TELEVISION PROGRAMS, HOME VIDEO 
PROGRAMS AND MOTION PICTURES TO BROADCAST OR PRESENT THEIR 
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF 
PROGRAMS AND FILMS WITH CLOSED-CAPTION AND PROVIDING 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congvess 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. All franchise holders or operators of television stations, producers 
of television stations, producers of television programs, home video programs and 
motion pictures shall be required to have their programs and films with closed-captions 
so as to benefit persons with hearing impairment. 
As used in this Act, closed-caption shall mean a method of captioning or 
subtitling of television, home video programs and films for hearing-impaired or foreign 
language viewers without interfering with the normal television picture and films, by 
coding captions as vertical interval data signal which is decoded at the receiver and 
superimposed on the television picture or on films of motion pictures. 
SECTION 2. Any franchise holder or operator of television stations, producer of 
television programs, home video programs and motion pictures, who shall violate the 
provision of Section 1 shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos 
(P50,OOO.OO) nor more than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or by 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year or both such 
fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court. 
In case the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or any other 
juridical 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 its business shall be canceled. 
If the offender is an alien, in addition to the penalties herein prescribed, he shall, 
after service of sentence, be deported without further proceedings on the part of the 
Bureau of Immigration. 


SECTION 3. 
The National Telecommunications Commission, in consultation 
with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and Videogram 
Regulatory Board, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 4. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person 
or circumstances is held invalid, the other provisions of this Act and the application of 
such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 5. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and othe 
I .ssuances 
' 
or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 
SECTION 6. 
This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the official Gazette 
whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,