SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The proliferation of obscene material may be attributed to the lack of looal 
agencies whioh monitor, initiate, prosecute and receive complaints for violations of 
our law on obscenity. It has been observed that looal enforcement agencies have 
not always been consistent in their campaigns against these obscene materials 
which are practically available to anyone. And despite the seasonal campaigns of 
local enforcement agencies, particularly in the National Capital Region, we are yet 
to see the people behind the proliferation of obscene materials prosecuted and 
dealt with accordingly by law. 
The Revised Penal Code in the Article 201 paragraphs 2 and 3 imposes a 
penalty of prision mayor and fine to the authors, editors, owners of the 
establishment responsible for the dissemination of obscene materials. Sufficient in 
form and substance, this provision of the law is, however, often ignored by those 
who find it worthy to desecrate the society's morality in exchange for gainful 
profits. 
It is the objective of this bill to provide for the local monitoring agencies in all 
municipalities and cities to arrest the proliferation of obscene materials in their 
respective jurisdiction. These local agencies will monitor all periodical publications, 
being published, sold and otherwise distributed in their respective jurisdiction, 
receive complaints from their constituents, 
initiate the prosecution and, 
recommend the cancellation of business permits of establishments, for violations 
of the law on obscenity. 
The early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
F=irst Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 9 7 B 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A LOCAL PRINT MEDIA MONITORING 
BOARD IN 
ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES, TO 
PREVENT THE 
PROLIFERATION 
OF 
OBSCENE 
PUBLICATION 
AND 
FOR 
OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Local Anti-Smut 
Campaign Act of 2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect its people especially the youth and women from immoral, obscene 
and pornographic materials for their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and 
social well-being. 
SEC. 3. - Local Print Media Monitoring Board. - There is hereby created 
in every municipality and city of the country a Local Print Media Monitoring Board 
which shall: (a) monitor all the periodical publications being distributed, 
disseminated, sold and made available within their respective jurisdiction; (b) seek 
the assistance of local enforcement agencies to identify the publishers and 
persons responsible for the publication and proliferation of obscene materials, (c) 
cause the prosecution of all persons involved for violations of Article 201 of the 
Revise Penal Code as amended, and other related laws; (d) receive complaints 
from its constituents regarding the proliferation of obscene materials within its 
jurisdiction and act accordingly on such complaints; (e) recommend the 
cancellation of the business permits of those found violating the provisions of this 
Act, the provisions of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code as amended, and 
related laws, and (f) perform such other acts necessary to carry out the objectives 
Of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Composition of the Local Print Media Monitoring Board. -The 
Local Print Media Monitoring Board (hereafter referred to as "the Board") shall be 
composed of the Municipality/City Mayor as its ex-officio Chairman, the 
Municipality Legal Officer as its ex-officio Secretary, the President of the Liga ng 
mga Barangay, the President of the Pambayang Pederasyon ng mga 
Sangguniang Kabataan, and a representative from the women sector of the 
locality as its members. The Board shall meet at least twice a month or as 
frequently as may be necessary to carry out its functions. Except for the 


representative from the women sector, no member shall receive additional 
compensation or emoluments whatsoever for this purpose. The Board may fix, 
subject to the approval of the local sanggunian, the per diem allowance of the 
representative of the women sector for every Board meeting actually attended. 
SEC. 5. Mandatory Complimentary Copy of All Periodical Publications. 
-
All publishers of periodical publication, including newspapers, tabloids, 
magazines, comic books, and other similar printed materials, shall furnish all the 
local Board complimentary copies of all their publications, where such publications 
are being printed, distributed, disseminated, sold or otherwise made available to 
the public upon the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 6. Certification of the Local Board. - Business permits of publishers 
of periodicals and distributors and sellers shall not be renewed by the local 
government unit concerned without the certification of the Board that said 
publishers, distributors and sellers complied with the provision of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Interior 
and Local Government shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement this Act. 
SEC. 8. Penalty Clause. - Publishers found to have violated the provisions 
of Section 5 hereof shall be imposed a fine of not less than Twenty Five Thousand 
Pesos 
(P25,OOO.OO) 
but not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P100,OOO.OO). 
The 
local 
government 
unit 
concerned 
may, 
upon 
the 
recommendation of the Board, suspend the business permit of the publisher, who 
fails to comply with the provisions of Section 5 hereof. 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - Should any part of provision of this Act is 
declared valid or unconstitutional for any purpose, none of the other parts or 
provisions shali be affected. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decree, 
institutions, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,