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

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 1776
• Sections: 5

Preamble

WHEREAS, the important role of mass communications in national

development necessitates the assumption by the government of an active

role in promoting the development of mass media, consistent with the

principle of press freedom and the need for social responsibility in its

exercise;

WHEREAS, the self-regulating print and broadcast media councils or

bodies authorized to be organized under Presidential Decree No. 576

have succeeded by and large in self-regulation, internal discipline and

maintenance of standards for professional conduct and excellence;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to enhance the role of these councils or

bodies not only in elevating the standards to excellence of mass media,

but also in assisting the government in the enforcement of the laws,

such as the nationality requirement in the Constitution, relating to

mass media activities;

WHEREAS, it is desirable that the registration of mass media

should be exercised in such a manner as to avoid the possibility of

oligopolistic self-regulation, and thus afford greater opportunity for

participation in mass media activities; and

WHEREAS, it is desirable to improve upon the membership in the

regulatory council for each mass media group by including prominent

citizens who will represent the viewpoint of the general public and

provide greater balance in the deliberations of the council.

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 2 of Presidential Decree No. 576, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. For purposes of this Decree, mass media shall be divided

into two groups: Print Media and Broadcast Media. “Print Media” includes

all newspapers, periodicals, magazines, journals, and publications and

all advertising therein, and billboards, neon signs and the like.

“Broadcast Media” includes radio and television broadcasting in all

their aspects, including all forms of audio, visual or audio-visual

communications such as video tapes, citizens band, and other similar

electronic devices, and cinematography, to the extent that these forms

are utilized as mass media through radio or television broadcasting

transmission. The Print Media group and the Broadcasting Media group are

hereby authorized to organize and determine the composition of a body

or council within each group which shall be responsible for instituting

and formulating systems of self-regulation and internal discipline

within its own ranks; Provided, That there shall be adequate

representation from the general public in such body or council by the

inclusion of knowledgeable prominent citizens of unquestioned

integrity.”

Section 2

SECTION 2. Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 576, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 3. Each regulatory council or body shall be responsible for

the elevation of the ethics and the standards of excellence of mass

media in all its phases within each group. Towards this end, each

council or body is hereby authorized to adopt policies, formulated

guidelines, fix standards and promulgate reasonable rules and

regulations for the operation and discipline of all mass media under its

supervision, and to administer and enforce the same. Such policies,

standards, guidelines, and rules and regulations shall be in conformity

with the provisions of existing laws, especially those on national

security.

“The Minister of Public Information shall be furnished copies of

the rules and regulations and other issuances as well as decisions of

the regulatory councils or bodies, for purposes of information only.”

Section 3

SECTION 3. Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 576, as amended, is 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 the Constitution and the

laws, and 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 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 the 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 4

SECTION 4. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 14th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-one.

(SGD.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) JUAN C. TUVERA

Presidential Executive Assistant