KBP, PPI buck mandatory airtime, space for public service on media

MANILA, Philippines - The proposed mandatory allocation of airtime and paper space on both the broadcast and the print media for public service announcements received objections from the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Philippine Press Institute(PPI). In a meeting held recently by the House committee on public information, KBP president Maloli Espinosa voiced out the broadcast media’s opposition against the proposed bill. "To legislate the responsibilities of broadcast media, particularly in the context of ’content regulation,’ would constitute a serious violation of Press Freedom," she said. House Bill (HB) 1556 authored by Rep. Alfonso Umali, Jr. (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) proposes that all broadcast media facilities allocate at least two hours of airtime a day as well as all print media facilities a certain space for write-ups on public service programs designed to propagate slogans and "morale boosting" advertisements. "This measure will uplift the morale of the people, give impetus to good governance, raise the awareness of the people on spiritual and humane values and project a good image of our country to foreign investors," M. Umali said during the meeting. Another measure, HB 2172, authored by Rep. Al Francis Bichara (2nd District, Albay), requires all broadcast media to allocate free airtime at least once a week for information dissemination on environmental issues and concerns including, but not limited to, energy conservation, environmental protection and preservation, climate change, proper waste disposal, renewable and alternative sources of energy, reforestation, water conservation and the like. For his part, Rep. Bichara conveyed to the Committee that his bill will be a tool in informing the people of the environmental issues and concerns which are not normally known or understood by many. However, Ms. Espinosa disclosed that "the KBP, being fully aware of the role of the broadcast media in national development, believes in and advocates a responsible broadcast media through a regime of self-regulation." She added that even without a legislation, KBP is being active in its role of rendering public service. "The KBP though the years has launched programs for youth development, instilling positive traditional Filipino values, road safety, care for the environment and others, and supported government programs in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and other government agencies," she said. Mr. Jose Pavia, president of the PPI, backed the position of the KBP president. "Any legislation of mass media content would infringe on press freedom. For this reason, the PPI object both bills," he said. The KBP is the premier organization of the broadcast industry in the Philippines, while the PPI, representing the interests and concerns of the newspaper sector in media, is mandated to defend press freedom and promote ethical standards for the professional development of the Filipino journalist. On the other hand, Ms. Marifel Moyano of HARIBON Foundation, the organization that is at the forefront of environmental and wildlife protection and conservation in the Philippines, expressed full support for the two measures. "The media has the strongest power to influence and persuade the masses. If we will just get their full support on this measures, educating the masses on matters like global warming, energy conservation, recycling, renewable and alternative sources of energy, and the like, will be a lot easier. Because right now, more than half of the Filipinos are not adequately informed about these matters," she said. The Committee agreed to meet again on May to consolidate the two bills and to hear the sides of other sectors. It also requested the stakeholders to submit their position papers on the two measures. - Elizabeth T. Marcelo, BusinessWorld