SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. 
2239 
'14 
MAY 26 P4 :41 
Prepared by the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media 
with Senators Revilla, Legarda and Poe as authors thereof 
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AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL FRANCHISE HOLDERS OR OPERATORS OF TELEVISION 
STATIONS AND PRODUCERS OF TELEVISION PROGRAMS TO BROADCAST OR 
PRESENT THEIR PROGRAMS WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS OPTION, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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Section 1. Requirement.- All franchise holders or operators of television stations and 
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producers of television programs are required to broadcast their programs with closed captions 
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option to benefit persons with hearing disabilities, including but not limited to newscast or news 
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programs and pre-scripted programs. 
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Section 2. Definition of Terms.- As used in this Act: 
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a) "Closed caption" shall mean a method of subtitling television programs by coding 
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statements as vertical data signal that are decoded at the receiver and superimposed at the 
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bottom ofthe television screen. 
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b) "Economically burdensome" shall mean that which result in a significant difficulty or 
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expense to be determined by the following factors: 
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1) The nature and cost of the closed captions for the programming; 
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2) The impact on the operation of the provider or producer; 
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3) The financial resources of the provider or producer; 
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4) The type of operations of the provider or producer. 
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c) "Newscast" or "news programs" shall refer only to report of happenings of recent 
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occurrence of a varied character, such as political, social, moral, religious and other 
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subjects intended for the information of the general public. It shall also refer to straight 
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news reporting as distinguished from news· analyses or editorials, commentaries and 
opinions. 
Section 3. Exempt Programming. The following shall be exempt from closed 
captioning: 
1) Public service announcements that are shorter than ten (10) minutes; 
2) Programs shown in the early morning hours from 1 :00 am to 6:00 am; 
3) Programs that are primarily textual in nature; 
4) When compliance would be economically burdensome. 


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Section 4. Penalties.- Any franchise holder or operator of television stations and 
producer of television programs, who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall be 
punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) but not morc than 
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PIOO,OOO.OO) or by imprisonment of not less than six (6) 
months but not more than one (1) year, or both, 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 person-in-charge of the 
management of the business shall be liable therefor. In addition, the license or permit to 
operate its business shall be cancelled. 
Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The National Telecommunication 
Commission and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, in 
consultation with other concerned agencies and entities, shall promulgate the necessary 
rules and regulations within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity date of 
this Act. 
Section 6. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations, other 
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, other 
parts or provisions thereof not affected thereby shall remain and continue to be in full 
force and effect. 
Section 8. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,