Bill Mandates that planes play Filipino music upon landing.
MANILA, Philippines — The new normal for Philippine tourism may include not only pandemic precautions but also an obligatory “soundtrack.”
On the third and final reading, the House of Representatives approved a draft bill mandating the playing of Filipino songs in hotels, resorts, restaurants, tourist buses, and all inbound international flights.
The chamber approved House Bill No. 10305 on Monday by a vote of 179-0-0, requiring international flights landing in the Philippines to devote at least 50% of their piped-in music to Filipino songs.
According to the bill, 50 percent of the songs on tourist buses must be local, while hotels, resorts, and restaurants must have 25 percent Filipino music on their playlists.
The bill’s supporters claimed they wanted to promote native culture through Philippine music, which the bill defined as “any musical composition, whether purely instrumental or with lyrics, that was originally composed, written, arranged, performed, or played by Filipinos.”
Penalties are severe.
Songs composed and written by Filipinos will be considered Philippine music, regardless of whether the lyrics are in Filipino, English, or any regional language or dialect.
Airline companies that fail to play the required music as their aircraft land in the country face a P300,000 fine, while bus operators face a P50,000 fine for each offense.
For each offense, hotels, restaurants, and resorts face a P20,000 fine.
DOT mission
The bill requires the Department of Tourism (DOT) to develop implementing rules and regulations within 60 days of its passage into law.
One of the bill’s primary authors, Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, stated that the measure should promote nationalism and encourage more tourists to visit the Philippines.
Other authors include Laguna Representative Sol Aragones, Tingog Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez, Pangasinan Representative Christopher de Venecia, Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr., and Nueva Ecija Representative Micaela Violago, among others.
“It will be a very effective way of promoting Filipino culture, tradition, values, and our true character as a people,” Atienza said on Tuesday.
The bill will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
