THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proliferation of obscene material may be attributed to the lack of local 
agencies which monitor, initiate, prosecute and receive complaints for violations of our 
law on obscenity. It has been observed that local 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 
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. 


” 
I 
I! 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
Introduced by SEN. JINGGQY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
POVIDING 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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Tit/e. - This Act shall be known as the “Local Anti-Smut Campaign 
Act of 2004.” 
SECTION 2. Declarafion ofPo/icy. - 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. 
SECTION 3. - Local Prinf Media Moniforing Board. - There is hereby 
created in every municipality and city of the country a Local Print Media Monitoring 
Board which shall: 
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. 
(a) 


, 
SECTION 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 MunicipalKity 
Legal Officer as its ex-officio Secretary, the President of the liga ng mga barangay, the 
President of the parnbayang pedersyon 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, 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. 
SECTION 
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. 
SECTION 6. 
Certification of the Local Board. - 
Business permits of 
publishers of periodicals shall not be renewed by the local government unit concerned 
without the certification of the Board that said publishers complied with the provision of 
this Act. 
SECTION 7. lmplementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of 
Interior and Local Government shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement this Act. 
SECTION 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 
(PI 00,000.00). 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. 
SECTION 9. Separabilify C/ause. - Should any part of provision of this Act is 
declared valid or unconstitutional for any purpose, none of the other parts or provisions 
shall be affected. 


SECTION 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. 
SECTION 11. Effecfivify - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,