HOUSE 1F REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

JUN 2016
Republic of the Philippines DATE:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES = tive: “72 / 7
Quezon City Ry:

17" CONGRES:
First Regular Session

7372 4

UY
REGISTRATION UNIT
BELLS AND INDEX SERVICE
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill requires all broadcast media to provide public service time to enable the
government to reach the population and educate the people on important public issues
relative to health, road and traffic discipline, public safety, good values, welfare rights and
benefits, and disaster preparedness programs.

Section 24, Article II of the Constitution provides that:

“SEC. 24. The State recognizes the vital role of communication and
information in nation building.”

The capability of broadcast media in disseminating information through live and
recorded coverage cannot be overstated. Its influence in shaping public perceptions and
behavior, changing social attitudes and bringing about social integration is highly recognized.

Broadcast media is the best tool to relay information and motivate people to
participate in nation building. It is the most effective vehicle to carry out the government’s
ultimate goal to promote the objectives of sound government.

Health, road and traffic discipline, good values, public safety, welfare rights and
benefits and disaster preparedness are matters of public interest and concern because of their
significant effects on safety and on the social, economic and moral well being of the people.
The plans and programs of the government on these matters must involve the active
participation and cooperation of the people for their effective implementation. Thus, the
government should relay and communicate the public policy on these matters through the use
of the most effective and accessible means, the broadcast media.

To promote the efficiency of public service and the principles of good governance,
this measure requires broadcast media to provide public service time on matters of public
interest to advance the plans, programs and projects of the government and to encourage and
motivate the public to support, participate and cooperate in the implementation and
promotion of these plans, programs and projects.


Further, this initiative will guarantee and confirm the social responsibi
broadcast media in serving the interest and welfare of the people. As pointed out by the
Supreme Court in the case of Telecommunications and Broadcast Attorneys of the
Philippines, Inc. and GMA Network, Inc. vs. Commission on Elections (G.R. No. 132922,
April 21, 1998), “In wath, radio and television broadcasting companies, which are given
franchises, do not own the airwaves and frequencies through which they transmit broadcast
signals and images. They are merely given the temporary privilege of using them. Since a
franchise is a mere privilege, the exercise of the privilege may reasonably be burdened with
the performance by the grantee of some form of public service."

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought

EVELINA G. ESCUDERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

9
HOUSE BILL NO. 237

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G ESCUDERO

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL BROADCAST MEDIA TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PUBLIC
SERVICE TIME TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO REACH THE
POPULATION AND EDUCATE THE PEOPLE ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC ISSUES
RELATIVE TO HEALTH, ROAD AND TRAFFIC DISCIPLINE, PUBLIC SAFETY,
GOOD VALUES, WELFARE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS, AND DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS

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

SECTION I. All broadcast media shall provide public service time of at least two
(2) minutes per hour to enable the government to educate and increase the awareness of the
people on the following matters:

a) Health;
b) Road and traffic discipline:
©) Public safety;

4) Good values;
e) Welfare rights and benefits; and
f) __ Disaster preparedness programs.

Broadcast media shall elect the subject matter to be featured in a given time.

For purposes of this Act, broadcast media refer to radio or television stations engaged
in the business of distributing audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio
or mass communication media.

SEC. 2. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall cause the production of the
public service commercials designed to promote and inform the public on the latest issues,
announcements, warnings, plans and programs of the government to be aired by the broadcast
media,

SEC. 3. Failure of any broadcast media to provide the required public service time
under Section 1 of this Act shall be a ground for suspension, revocation or non-renewal of
license to operate radio or television station.



SEC. 4. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Director General
of the PIA, in coordination with the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 5. Alll laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,