AMENDING SECTION 4 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 576 ENTITLED “ABOLISHING THE MEDIA ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS FOR MASS MEDIA, AND AUTHORIZING THE ORGANIZATION OF REGULATORY COUNCIL FOR PRINT MEDIA AND FOR BROADCAST MEDIA.”

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 1737-A
• Sections: 3

Preamble

WHEREAS, mass media are a potent means of mass communication

which can be effectively utilized by subversive elements in furthering their

causes;

WHEREAS, in the interest of national security, there is need

to regulate the utilization of mass media;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the

Constitution, do hereby order and decree the following:

Section 1

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 576 us

hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 4. No mass media activity shall be undertaken by any

person or entity in the Philippines without first being registered with the

regulatory council or body concerned, which shall issue certificates of

registration to all applicants qualified under its respective rules or

regulations: Provided, That each council shall have the authority to

suspend or cancel such certificates of registration for such cause or causes as

may be provided in the rules and the existence of which each council or

body shall have duly determined: Provided, further, That no certificate

of registration shall be granted in any manner or under any condition to any of

those engaged in mass media which were, in September 1972, ordered closed and/or

sequestered upon promulgation of Proclamation No. 1081, by order of the

President or the Secretary of National Defense, or WHICH THEREAFTER MAY BE

ORDERED CLOSED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF A FINDING THAT IT HAS BEEN UTILIZED FOR

PURPOSES OF SUBVERSION, SEDITION AND OTHER SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES INIMICAL TO THE

NATIONAL SECURITY.”

Section 2

SECTION 2. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 21st day of September, in the year of Our

Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the

Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA

Senior Presidential

Assistant