JUNE 17, 2016

NR # 4234

Bill requiring TV operators to present their program with closed captions

for benefit of deaf persons awaits PNoy signature
A proposal requiring all franchise holders or operators of television stations and
producers of television programs to broadcast or present their programs with closed
captions for the benefit of persons with hearing disabilities is now awaiting the approval
and signature of President Aquino to become a new law.
The Senate approved on third and final reading the proposal embodied in Senate
Bill 2239 on May 23, 2016. Meanwhile, the House passed on final reading House Bill 925
as early as May 24, 2014, and decided to adopt SB 2239 as an amendment to HB 925 last
May 23, 2014.
Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., one of the authors of the bill, cited there are
about 4.5 million deaf Filipinos, most of whom have no access to programs that can help
them realize their full potentials.
One of the major accessibility concerns of deaf or hard of hearing people is that
their lack of access to public information hampers their active participation on matters of
public concern. The passage of this bill will address the constitutional mandate for the
State to recognize the basic right of the people to information on matters of public
concern said Revilla.
The bill requires all franchise holders or operators of television stations and
producers of television programs to broadcast their programs with closed captions option,
including but not limited to newscast or news programs and pre-scripted programs, to
benefit persons with hearing disabilities.
It refers to closed caption as a method of subtitling television programs by coding
statements as vertical data signal that are decoded at the receiver and superimposed at the
bottom of the television screen.
The following shall be exempt from closed captioning: Public service
announcements that are shorter than 10 minutes; Programs shown in the early morning
hours from 1 am to 6 am; Programs that are primarily textual in nature; and When
compliance would be economically burdensome.
Any franchise holder or operator of television stations and producer of television
programs, who violates the provisions of the Act, shall pay a fine of P500,000 to P1
million, or face imprisonment of six months to one 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. In addition, the license or permit to operate its
business shall be cancelled.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Movie and
Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), in consultation with other
concerned agencies and entities, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
within 120 days from the effectivity date of the Act.
House Bill 925 is authored by Buhay Party-list Reps. William Irwin Tieng, Mariano
Michael Velarde, Jr. and Lito Atienza.
Senate Bill 2239 was prepared by the Senate Committee on Public Information and
Mass Media chaired by Senator Grace Poe with Senators Revilla, Loren Legarda and Poe
as authors thereof. (30) rbb