Probe radio stations violating EO on OPM — lawmakers

Two lawmakers have asked a committee in the House of Representatives to investigate why radio stations in the country have supposedly “failed" to follow a directive to widen the airtime for original Pilipino music (OPM). Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his younger brother, Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., filed last week House Resolution 247 asking the House panel on information and communication to probe alleged violations of Executive Order (EO) 255 on prioritizing OPM songs. “There has been non-compliance by some radio stations with this EO 255, putting the local music industry at a disadvantage compared to the foreign music industry," the resolution read. The congressmen urged the House committee to summon officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) — the lead agency implementing EO 255 — as well as members of broadcast industry associations such as the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit during the investigation. E0 255, signed by the late President Corazon Aquino in 1987, requires all radio stations with musical format programs to play at least four OPM compositions per hour. During the first two months of his presidency, President Benigno Aquino III reminded NTC officials to implement EO 255 fully to support the local music industry. Radio stations must “ensure the growth of the local music industry" by strictly following the two-decade-old directive, the lawmakers said. Under EO 255, a radio station that fails to comply with the order shall be fined P100 per violation and may risk having its license to operate suspended or cancelled. — VS, GMANews.TV