Office of Public Affairs

September 15, 1986 Office of Public Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Manila Gentlemen: This relates to your letter, dated August 27 1986, requesting information and appropriate action on the attached Cable No. 2PM-63-86 from the Philippine Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Specifically, the cable seeks information on the ownership and control of TV broadcasting stations in the Philippines. prcd Anent thereto, Section 7 (1), Article XV of the Philippine Constitution, which has been adopted as part of the Provisional Constitution under Proclamation No. 3, provides thus: "The ownership and management of Mass Media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or association wholly owned and managed by such citizens". The term "Mass Media" in the Constitution refers to any medium of communication, a newspaper, radio, motion pictures, television , designed to reach the masses and that tends to set the standards, ideals and aims of the masses (Op. 163, s. 1973, Minister of Justice). The distinctive feature of any mass media undertaking is the dissemination of information and ideas to the public, or a portion thereof. (Op. 120, s. 1982 Supra). The citizenship requirement is intended to prevent the use of such facility by aliens to influence public opinion to the detriment of the best interests of the nation. (Quisumbing-Fernando, Constitutional Law, 1984 ed., p. 345, cited in Op. No. 24, s. 1986, Minister of Justice). Thus, ownership/control of TV broadcasting stations is limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations or association wholly owned and managed by such citizens. Very truly yours, (SGD.) JULIO A. SULIT, JR. Chairman