WHEREAS, the mass media have been used in the
conspiracy against the Government and have taken part in that conspiracy
either by direct willful participation, or by indirectly giving aid and
comfort to the forces of insurgency and subversion seeking to overthrow
the Government by organized violence;
WHEREAS, some franchises, permits and authorizations
granted for the operation of radio, television and telecommunication
facilities have remained unused or unavailed of by their proper holders
after a reasonable length of time from the time such franchises, permits
and authorizations were issued; that some of them have been leased to
parties not otherwise authorized to operate such facilities; and some of
them, in the actual operation of these facilities, have violated or
refused to comply with regulations of the Radio Control Board, or any
other government authority having supervision over their operation;
WHEREAS, in order to safeguard the security of the
State and promote the objectives and goals of sound government, it is
necessary that judicious care be exercised in deciding what mass media
facilities should be authorized to operate;
NOW, THEREFORE, 1, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of
the Philippines by virtue of the powers in me vested by the
Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21,
1972, and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, do hereby
decree and order:
- The cancellation of all franchises, permits and authorizations of
all mass media facilities that have consciously or unconsciously taken
part in the conspiracy against the Government, given aid and comfort to
the forces of insurgency and subversion and have either directly
supported, or aided and abetted the subversion of our established
traditions and value;
- The cancellation of all franchises, permits and
authorizations granted for the operation of radio, television and
telecommunication facilities; (a) if such franchises, permits and
authorizations have not been availed of or used by the party or parties
in whose name they were issued; (b) if they have been given over for
lease or use by parties not otherwise authorized to hold such
franchises, permits or authorizations; or (c) if in their operation they
have violated or failed to comply with the regulations of the Radio
Control Board or any other government entity authorized to oversee the
operation thereof.
- The creation of a Mass Media Council, headed by the Secretary
of Public Information as Chairman, with the Secretary of National
Defense as co-chairman, and one representative from the mass media to be
appointed by the President as member, and with a secretariat to be
headed by the Chairman of the Radio Control Board, with the duty of
passing upon applications of mass media for permission to operate, so
that no newspaper, magazine, periodical or publication of any kind,
radio, television or telecommunications facility, station or network may
so operate without obtaining from the Mass Media Council a certificate
of authority to operate prior to actual operation. Such certificate of
authority shall be duly signed by the President, and shall be in force
for six months, renewable for another six months thereafter, unless
otherwise terminated earlier.
- All mass media facilities shall guarantee space and time for
information emanating from the Government, and shall allot, as the
Secretary of Public Information may direct, adequate space and time for
all national undertakings, projects and campaigns that require wide
public dissemination, and shall treat information pertaining thereto as
public service material, whether this be in the form of news matter,
pictures, features, or the like, or in any promotional form. All radio
and television stations and networks shall, under the guidance of the
Department of Public Information, carry simultaneous regular broadcasts
on agricultural production, consumers' prices index, general government
and such other subjects of vital concern to the public. The print media
shall carry the equivalent of these broadcasts.
This Decree is hereby made part of the law of the land. It shall take
effect immediately and shall remain in force for the duration of the
present national emergency, or unless otherwise ordered by me or by my
duly designated representative.
Done in the City of Manila, this 2nd day of November, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-two.
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(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines |
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By the President: |
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(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR |
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Executive Secretary |