An Act Expanding the Scope of the Franchise Granted to the City Government of Davao, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 11538

June 17, 2022

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11842

AN ACT EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF DAVAO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11538, ENTITLED "AN ACT GRANTING THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF DAVAO A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS IN DAVAO CITY"

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 11538 is hereby amended to read as follows: ATICcS

"SECTION 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise. — Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, there is hereby granted to the City Government of Davao, hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assignees, a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain for commercial purposes and in the public interest, radio and television broadcasting stations in Davao City where frequencies or channels are still available for radio and television broadcasting, including digital television system, through microwave, satellite or whatever means, including the use of any new technology in television and radio systems, with the corresponding technological auxiliaries and facilities, special broadcast and other program and distribution services and relay stations."

SECTION 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11538 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 4. Responsibility to the Public. — The grantee shall reach the pertinent populations or portions thereof on important public issues and relay important public announcements and warnings concerning public emergencies and calamities, as necessity, urgency or law may require; provide at all times sound and balanced programming; promote public participation; assist in the functions of public information and education; conform to the ethics of honest enterprise; promote audience sensibility and empowerment including closed captioning; and not use its stations or facilities for the broadcasting of obscene or indecent language, speech, act or scene, the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of public interest, or to incite, encourage, or assist in subversive or treasonable acts.

"Pursuant to Republic Act No. 8370, otherwise known as the "Children's Television Act of 1997," the grantee shall allot a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the daily total air time of each broadcasting network or station to child-friendly shows within its regular programming."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved: June 17, 2022.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 118, No. 26, p. 7576 on June 27, 2022.