Official Launch Children's Television Act (RA 8370) Implementing Rules and Regulations

Television is like a knife, one can peel fruit with it, one can also kill with it.  Television is like fertilizer, one must exercise prudence in its use. We put grills on our windows and bolts on our doors to ward off elements, why do we sometimes forget to guard the window that is almost constantly open through which our children let in undesirable values and traits. -adapted from NCCT 's Certificate insert with the guidelines/booklet covering the Rules and Regulations.

A very important message by DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro was conveyed during the official launch of the Children's Television Act (RA 8370) last July 17, 2012,“ We should not leave parenting to television." Moreover, "It is a fundamental obligation of the adults and a social responsibility of the networks to actively pursue child-friendly programming that can have a lasting imprint on the minds of our young, “ said Luistro. 
We have to admit, as parents or teachers, we sometimes overlook  that television is the most influential form of media.  Research on television viewing and children's socialization indicates that television has a great impact on both adults and children's lives.

Studies show preschoolers spend an average of nearly 30 hours a week watching television; some spend more time watching television than doing anything else except sleeping (Anderson, Lorch, Field, Collins, & Nathan, 1986; Aulette, 1994; Kaplan, 1991). Nielsen Media Research has found that by the time children are 16 years old, they have spent more time watching television than going to school (as cited in Basow, 1992). As a result, children are exposed to about 20,000 advertisements a year (Stoneman & Brody, 1981). By the time a child graduates from high school, he will have witnessed 13,000 violent deaths on television (Gerbner & Gross, 1976).
Alarming, isn't it?

So to further promote child-friendly television programming in the Philippines, the National Council for Children’s Television officially launched the Children’s Television Acts Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) with Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC as keynote speaker.

The National Council for Children's Television was transferred from the Office of  the President to the Department of Education during  the executive office of the previous presidency.

The launch of the IRR comes after months of consultations with various child advocacy stakeholders all over the country, participated in by network executives and TV producers, parents, educators, NGOs and media after a series of fora held in Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao.

 

A salient point in the law enacted in 1997 requires all local TV networks to allot 15% daily airtime for child-friendly television shows. Independent producers and executives are also encouraged to produce television programs for children with assistance from the agency's National Endowment Fund. 

Luistro also inducts the celebrity champions for child sensitive television during the affair. They are showbiz spouses Julius Babao and Tintin Bersola , Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan, Christopher Roxas and Gladys Reyes, and  Paolo Abrera and Suzi Entrata as the celebrity champion couples.

The couples were chosen by the NCCT, headed by chair Mag Cruz Hatol and members Dr. Honey Carandang, Dr. Nina Lim Yuson, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan and Prof. Carla Pacis.  They will mobilize public interest by clamoring for more vigilant parenting in the face of television’s perceived adverse effects. The champions will also grace most of NCCT’s programs, projects and events.
The Celebrity Champions who graced the event , Anthony and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan; Christopher and Gladys Reyes- Sommereux.

Ms. Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Chairwoman of MTRCB

Me with the Sommereux couple

 To insure that your home promotes responsible children's TV