MANILA — Amid discussions surrounding the proposed amendments to the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez affirmed that self-regulation within the advertising industry would persist.

The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Amendments made this assertion in response to concerns voiced by stakeholders during a recent Senate hearing on the amendment proposals.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining the current internal arrangements of the advertising industry, Rodriguez clarified that the focus lies primarily on ownership issues. He underscored that there are no intentions to disrupt established practices such as self-regulation. Rodriguez firmly opposed any proposal that would alter this aspect of the industry.

During the Senate hearing, Rudolph Jularbal, legal counsel for the Ad Standards Council, highlighted that foreign ownership would not pose a challenge as long as self-regulation remains intact. He emphasized the significance of functional self-regulation, asserting that effective content regulation can be upheld regardless of ownership structures.

Addressing concerns regarding the perceived lack of value brought by foreign ownership to advertising agencies, Rodriguez argued that additional capital infusion into any business entity, including those in the advertising sector, inherently adds value. He also pointed out the potential benefits of technology transfer and access to foreign expertise, which could enhance the operations of such agencies.

In response to raised issues regarding editorial independence and advertiser influence on content, Rodriguez assured that editorial judgments would remain within the purview of ad agencies. He reiterated the stance that legislative interference in editorial decisions would not be entertained. Furthermore, he emphasized that decisions regarding advertisement content would be left to the discretion of both advertisers and their respective agencies.

Throughout the discourse, Rodriguez reiterated the commitment to preserving the autonomy and self-regulation of the advertising industry. Despite discussions on potential changes to ownership structures, the assurance was clear: the industry’s internal regulatory mechanisms would remain intact.

(Filed by el Amigo/MNM)