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No More "Kinse Anyos" Ads
by Gabrieloa Women's Party
Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2004 at 5:30 PM
4487749, 9251993, 0917-8226635
NO MORE "KINSE ANYOS" ADS:
GABRIELA TO SEEK STIFFER PENALTIES VS. OBSCENE ADVERTISING
Following the pull-out of the Kinse Anyos billboards, GABRIELA Womens Partylist today said it would push for legislation that will impose higher penalties for obscenity and encourage responsible advertising and media practice.
Former Representative and GABRIELA Womens Partylist 1st nominee Liza Largoza Maza said "one thing that we have learned with the campaign to pull-out the kinse anyos billboards is that the law is toothless. When obstinate companies refuse to submit to self regulation, the penalties for the obscenity cases that can be filed against them are peanuts compared to their profits."
Maza explained that the revised penal code provides a mere Php6,000-12,000 fine for the publication of obscene materials. "This penalty does not even approximate the damage to our social and moral fibers that can ensue from such reprehensible and irresponsible use of the mass media."
Maza also noted that the advertising industry is a multi-million business and that the penalty does not even come close to what it costs to mount an entire advertising campaign.
"It is no wonder that it took a long time for Destileria Limtuaco to face their social responsibility. It was as if they were not at all concerned nor were they threatened by the complaints and they continued to advertise irresponsibly to amass profits at the expense of the dignity, security and welfare of young women and children. If not for the public's vigilance and the continued pressure they would not come to their senses."
Maza said that the proposed legislation which they intend to file should GABRIELA Womens Partylist win a seat in the 13th Congress, will primarily encourage and strengthen self-regulation, gender sensitivity and responsibility particularly in the mass media and seek to impose stiffer penalties for those who refuse to submit to self-regulatory mechanisms.
"The mass media is a very powerful tool. It is has far reaching effects on the consciousness of our people. Let us remain vigilant and let us make sure that the mass media will not be used to perpetuate a backward and decadent thinking that encourages the abuse of women and girls," Maza said.#
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