Republic Act No.
8370
Children's Television Act of 1997
SECTION
SECTION 1. TITLE
SECTION II. DECLARATION OF POLICY
SECTION III. DEFINITION OF TERMS
SECTION IV. ESTABLISHMENT OF A
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CHILDREN’S
TELEVISION
SECTION V. THE COUNCIL
SECRETARIAT
SECTION VI. THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND ITS COMPOSITION
DESCRIPTION
Children’s Television Act of 1997
The State recognizes:
• the vital role of youth in nation-
building;
• the importance and impact of
broadcast media; and
• broadcasting as a form of mass
communication
1. Children
2. Children’s television
3. Child-friendly programs
4. Child-viewing hours
The Council shall be composed of five (5)
members who shall be appointed by the
President for a term of three (3) years:
Provided, That of the first appointees:
a) the term of the first set of two (2)
members shall be for three (3) years;
b) the term of the second set of two (2)
members shall be for two (2) years; and
c) the term of the remaining member shall
be for one (1) year
The Council shall organize a secretariat to be
headed by an Executive Director and with not
more than twenty (20) personnel
The members of the Advisory Committee shall
be composed of the following:
a) the Executive Director of the Council
for the Welfare of Children;
b) the Chairman or Executive Director of
the National Commission for Culture
and the Arts;
c) the President of the Kapisanan ng mga
Brodkaster sa Pilipinas;
d) the President or Executive Director of
the Philippine Association of National
Advertisers;

SECTION VII. FUNCTIONS OF THE
COUNCIL
SECTION VIII. SUBMISSION OF
COMPREHENSIVE MEDIA PROGRAM
FOR CHILDREN
SECTION IX. ALLOTMENT OF AIR TIME
FOR EDUCATIONAL CHILDREN’S
PROGRAMS
SECTION X. IMPLEMENTING RULES
AND REGULATIONS.
SECTION XI. PENALTY
SECTION XII. THE NATIONAL
ENDOWMENT FUND FOR CHILDREN’S
TELEVISION
SECTION XIII. APPROPRIATIONS
e) Press Undersecretary/Officer-In-
Charge of the Philippine Information
Agency;
f) the Chairman of the Movie and
Television Review and Classification
Board; and
g) a representative from the National
Telecommunications Commission.
(contains 9 functions)
Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this
Act, the Council in consultation with the
Advisory Committee shall submit to Congress
a comprehensive development and protection
program
A minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the
daily total air time of each broadcasting
network shall be allotted for child-friendly
shows
The Council, in consultation with all
appropriate government agencies and non-
government organizations, shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the
implementation of this Act within ninety (90)
days after its effectivity
In the exercise of its administrative function,
the Council shall petition the proper
government agencies and/or appropriate self-
regulatory bodies to suspend, revoke or cancel
the license to operate television stations found
violating any provision of this Act and its
implementing rules and regulations.
An amount of Thirty million pesos
(P30,000,000) sourced from the income of the
lotto operations of the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and another
Thirty million pesos (P30,000,000) from the
gross income of the Philippine Gaming
Corporation (PAGCOR) shall form part of the
Fund.
For the initial operating expenses of the
Council, the amount of Five million pesos
(P5,000,000) is hereby appropriated out of the
funds of the National Treasury not otherwise
appropriated.

SECTION XIV. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE
SECTION XV. REPEALING CLAUSE
SECTION XVI. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE
If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the
validity and effectivity of the other provisions
thereof.
All laws, decrees, executive orders,
presidential proclamations, rules and
regulations or parts thereof contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at
least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.