Palace: Cheaper political ads law levels playing field
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2019 05:56:08 +0000
Malacañang said yesterday that the signing of Republic Act No. 11207 providing discounts for political advertisements during the campaign season will level the playing field for those running for public office.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the law would benefit all those who are running for public office.
“This new measure on discounted political advertisements would benefit all candidates of the political spectrum and hopefully would level the playing field, in accordance with the directive of the Constitution, beginning this year’s elections,” he said.
The new law, which amends Section 11 of RA No. 9006 or the Fair Election Act, states that during election period, media outlets are to give discounts to registered political parties and candidates.
The law, signed on Valentine’s Day by President Duterte, says that television advertisements are to be given 50 percent discount, 40 percent for radio, and 10 percent for print from the average of the published rates charged in the last three calendar years prior to the election.
RA No. 11207, a consolidation of House Bill No. 6604 and Senate Bill No. 1985, however, does not prohibit the media from giving bigger discounts as long as it gives the same discount to all candidates.
“In no case shall rates charged to registered political parties and bonafide candidates be higher that rates charged to non-political advertisers,” the law said. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)