Preamble
WHEREAS, the President of the Philippines is empowered under the Constitution to review and approve franchises for public utilities; WHEREAS, it has been observed that some public utilities, especially radio and television stations, have a tendency toward monopoly in ownership and operation to such an extent that a region or section of the country may be covered by any number of such broadcast stations, all or most of which are owned, operated or managed by one person or corporation; WHEREAS, radio is the chief vehicle for the dissemination of information, being the source, as surveys have shown, of 86 per cent of all information for the public, and television is becoming similarly pervasive; WHEREAS, the deep penetration that radio and television thus make into the public consciousness gives them the responsibility of assisting the government to promote and safeguard the public welfare; WHEREAS, on account of the limited number of frequencies available for broadcasting in the Philippines, it is necessary to regulate the ownership and operation of radio and television stations and provide measures that would enhance quality and viability in broadcasting and help serve the public interest; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree: