PB pushes for airing of Sugbuano songs

The Provincial Board has approved on first reading an ordinance which mandates the playing or broadcasting of original Sugbuano songs in all AM and FM radio stations in the province and that penalties will be meted to those who will violate its provisions.

The draft ordinance sponsored by PB member Victor Maambong states that Sugbuano songs are forms of artistic expression considered as "monuments of our people's genius through which our values, our idiosyncrasies and our nature are articulated."

The ordinance also states that radio stations are partly to blame for the notion of "bakya" given to musical pieces recorded by our local artists not so long ago. This is because rarely can the public hear such being appreciated on air. It has been noted that broadcast time on radio from sign on to sign off is crammed up with recordings performed by foreign music artists.

Maambong, in his ordinance, said that mandatory airtime would support the upholding of local Sugbuano music as this would develop among audience a mindset that would strengthen the advocacy of Filipino artists themselves and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas on appreciation for local music.

Once said draft ordinance is passed, all commercial radio stations whether FM or AM bands here in Cebu shall air or broadcast at least one recording of an original Sugbuano song or composition during each hourly division of broadcast time.

The alternative is to devote a daily program featuring exclusively such compositions the number of which shall correspond to the total number of broadcasting hours a station operates.

Any person found to have violated the ordinance will be fined not more than P5,000 or by imprisonment of not more than one year or both at the discretion of the court.

The management of the AM or FM station of which such person is an employee will also be meted with a fine of not more than P5,000 while the license to operate of the AM or FM station found guilty of violating the provision of the ordinance for three times will also be recommended for revocation by the National Telecommunications Commission. - Flor Z. Perolina