Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 898

Introduced by Rep. MARIO VITTORIO “MARVEY” A, MARINO
5% District, Batangas

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 24, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State
recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.
Information, after all, is power. Mere recognition of its power, however, is not enough.
One can only witness the true power of information when it has been used and applied
effectively in nation-building. Instilling discipline, for instance, requires information.
A disciplined citizenry presupposes an informed society. One cannot be expected to
obey laws, rules, or code of behavior without knowing and understanding what these
laws, rules, and code of behavior are. Clearly, the role of communication and
information is vital in nation-building,

The government is the agency or instrumentality through which the will of the
State is formulated, expressed and realized.' One of the important tasks of the
government is to act for the State as parens patriae, or guardian of the rights of the
people.” As guardian of the rights of the people, it is the duty of the government to
see to it that the citizens are well-informed of their rights, duties and responsibilities.
It is only when people are well-informed of these rights, duties, and responsibilities
that they realize the importance of their role and purpose in society.

Mass media, on the other hand, is the primary means of communication to reach
the vast majority of the general public. The vast reach and influence of media can be
seen especially during elections. Political advertisements have been an effective tool
in conveying a candidate's message and in gaining votes and public support,

* Cruz, |. (2003). Political Law.
2 Ibid.


Television, for instance, is considered the most cost effective medium of
dissemination.’ Even a slight increase in television exposure can significantly boost a
candidate's popularity, name recall and electability.’ If mass media can be used as
means to get votes, the more it can be used to inform the public of their tights, their
duties, and their responsibilities. Above all, mass media has the duty to inform people.

Considering all these, it is vital that we have a law mandating mass media, in
particular radio and television broadcasting companies to allocate airtime for public
service announcements and infomercials on laws, social welfare, public safety,
government processes and other matters of public and national concer to increase
awareness and inform the public of their rights, duties and responsibilities,

In truth, 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.’ By
allocating public service announcements and government infomercials, TV and radio
networks are performing some form of public service for the Filipino people. It is
time government and mass media work together for the betterment of this country.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bills eamestly requested.

MARIG@ VITTORIO“MARVEY” A. MARINO

® GMA v, COMELEC, G.R. No. 205357, September 2014

* Ibid.

* Telecommunications and Broadcast Attorneys of the Philippines, Inv. v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 132922,
April 1998


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 898

Introduced by Rep. MARIO VITTORIO “MARVEY” A, MARINO
5th District, Batangas

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

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

SECTION 1. All broadcast media shall provide public service time of at least
five (5) minutes per day to enable the government to educate and increase the
awareness of the people on the following matters:

a. Laws;
b. Health;

c. Road and traffic discipline;

d. Government processes;

e. Public safety;

£. Good values;

g. Welfare rights and benefits; and
h Disaster preparedness programs

Provided that a minimum of two (2) minutes a day of airtime shall be allocated
during primetime.

For purposes of this Act, broadcast media shall 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.

SECTION 2. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall be the lead agency
in coordinating with all broadcast media with regard to the usage of airtime including
the subject matter. It shall cause the production of the public service commercials
designed to promote and inform the public on the latest laws, issues, announcements,


warnings, plans and programs of the government to be aired by all TV and radio
networks.

SECTION 3. Suspension, Non-Renewal of Franchise. - Failure of any TV or
radio station facility to provide the required public service time under Section 1 of this
Act shall be ground for suspension, revocation or non-tenewal of franchise to operate
TV or radio networks.

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules. ~ Within ninety (90) days from 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.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. ~ All 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.

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

Approved,