At the Pinoy Music Summit, Aquino said his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, signed Executive Order 255 in 1987 to give due recognition to Filipino music and artists.
Under EO 255, “all radio stations shall broadcast a minimum of four original [F]ilipino musical compositions in every clockhour of a program with a musical format.”
“Pinaigting naman po natin ito sa pag-aatas sa National Telecommunications Commission na bantayan ang pagsunod ng mga istasyon ng radyo sa batas na ito,” the President said on Wednesday.
EO 255 states that any franchise holder or operator of a radio station who fails to broadcast the minimum number of compositions shall pay P100 per violation.
It added that the NTC, after due hearing, may likewise suspend or cancel the certificate of registration and authority to operate of any radio station in the event of repeated violations.
Filipino music today
On Wednesday, Aquino underscored the importance of music in Filipino culture and everyday life. He also cited various Filipino achievements in the field of music.
“Alam naman po natin, at ng buong mundo: hindi lang mahilig kumanta ang Pilipino – sa larangan ng musika, pinatunayan, at patuloy nating pinatutunayan na mayroon tayong binubuga,” he said.
Because of this, he said the government is willing to help the industry in any way it can. “Nandiyan po yong kagustuhan ng sambayanan na patuloy na tulungan ang industriyang ito,” he said.
Also, the President said his administration is very supportive of the Optical Media Board’s anti-piracy campaign and the country’s compliance with the World Intellectual Property Organization Internet Treaties.
But he also urged the industry to focus on digital media, citing the demand for specific songs and not whole albums.
“Yung mga [bansang] nag-e-experience ng growth ngayon ay yung mga nakinig kung ano ang hinahanap ng merkado nila – hindi pinahirapan, hindi ipinagdamot ang produkto nila na gustong ibenta…,” he said.
Aquino’s statement came as Filipino music organizations appealed for the passage of a bill that will lower or scrap amusement tax imposed on Filipino composers and singers.
This move is expected to increase the money earned by musicians, which is much needed as the industry continues to suffer from piracy and emergence of foreign artists.
Data from the Pinoy Music Summit show that album sales have gone down to P699 million in 2010 from its peak of P2.7 billion in 1999, which is a 75 percent drop in revenues for recording companies in just one decade. — LBG, GMA News
