Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 21) — The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the bill providing political parties and candidates a 50-percent discount on ads and propaganda across all media outlets.
House Bill 6604, which was approved on December 11, seeks to amend Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9006 or the “Fair Elections Act,” which regulates the rates of political propaganda.
“The measure further prohibits the tri-media from charging registered parties and bona fide candidates higher rates than regular advertisers,” read a statement of the House of Representatives Press and Public Affairs Bureau released on Wednesday.
The bill also authorizes the Commission on Elections to regulate the rates of political propaganda.
The Fair Elections Act currently allows political parties and candidates a discounted rate of 30 percent for television, 20 percent for radio, and 10 percent for print over the average rates charged.
“The measure seeks to provide equal opportunity among qualified political candidates to avail of affordable political propaganda through the tri-media by regulating advertising rates and by increasing discounts during the election period,” the statement added.
The bill was principally authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and Representatives John Marvin Nieto, Rosanna Vergara, Estrellita Suansing, Michelle Antonio, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, and Eleanor Bulut-Begtang.
