House passes bill seeking mandatory playing of Filipino music in hotels, tourist buses, int'l flights

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the measure seeking to mandate the playing of Filipino music in hotels, resorts, restaurants, tourist buses, and all international flights coming into the country.

Voting 179-0, the chamber approved House Bill 10305, which aims to showcase the country's culture and promote Philippine music.

The measure states that upon landing in the Philippines, all flights coming from international destinations shall devote at least 50% of their piped-in music to Philippine music.

Further, all tourist buses shall prepare their playlists in such a manner that at least 50% shall consist of Philippine music, which shall be played on their piped-in sound system when ferrying tourists.

All hotels, resorts, and restaurants shall prepare their playlists in such a manner that at least 25% thereof shall consist of Philippine music which shall be played on their piped-in sound system during their operating hours, the measure proposes.

The bill defines Philippine music as any musical composition, whether purely instrumental or with lyrics, which has been originally composed, written, arranged, performed or played by Filipinos.

According to the bill, any board of directors or officer of an airline company who fails to devote at least 50% of their piped-in music to Philippine music shall be punished with a fine of P300,000 for every offense.

Any tourist bus owner or operator who fails to prepare in their playlists at least 50% of Philippine music and play on their piped-in sound system when ferrying tourists shall be punished with a fine of P50,000 for every offense.

Meanwhile, any hotel, resort or restaurant owner or operator who fails to prepare in their playlists at least 25% of Philippine music and play on their piped-in sound system during their operating hours shall be punished with a fine of P20,000 for every offense.

It mandates the Department of Tourism to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of the measure. —VBL, GMA News