The House Committee on Public Information chaired by Agusan del Norte Representative Jose Aquino II approved the substitute bill requiring broadcast media to air for free public service announcements on important public issues.
Aquino hopes that the measure would finally be enacted during the 19th Congress, to educate the public on critical issues, generate awareness and disseminate information on matters of public interest.
The “Public Service Announcement Act” replaces House Bills 915 and 1542 authored by Batangas Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño as well as Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Barbers, respectively.
The measure to be known as the “Public Service Announcement Act,” replaces House Bills 915 and 1542 authored by Batangas Representative Mario Vittorio Mariño as well as Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Barbers, respectively.
The substitute bill also mandates that the requirement for free airtime would apply to all radio and television broadcasting stations engaged in the business of distributing audio and video content via any audio, mass, digital or online communication media.
The bill requires broadcast media to dedicate two minutes per hour to government outreach.
The substitute measure mandates the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to monitor compliance.
