BATASAN, Quezon City — Members of the House of the Representatives Tri-Committee investigating concerns over the spread of fake news in social media (SocMed) are pushing for social media platforms to register under a franchise like the popular Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and others.

This was suggested by House tri-comm lead chair Surigao del Norte representative Robert Ace Barbers and co-chairs Abang Lingkod party-list congressman Joseph Stephen Paduano and Agusan del Norte solon Jose 'Joboy' Aquino.

“I think it would be best if these social media platforms secure a legislative franchise in this Congress. If you are under the franchise of this Congress, then you will be subject to the regulation that will be imposed under the law,” Barbers cited.

For his part, Paduano proposed to Republic Act 11659, or the Public Service Act, in order to include all social media platforms in the list of 'public utilities' under the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
“I think we should amend our Public Service Act and include this in the list of public utilities. As far as I'm concerned, all the more that we have to do that,” according to Paduano.

The sectoral lawmaker said this after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) admitted they had difficulties monitoring the earnings made by social media platform because they did not have offices.

“We don't consider them (social media) public utilities because they don’t have any physical office here in the Philippines,” Atty. Kathlyn Jaylou Egipto of the NTC had pointed out, prompting Paduano to ask social media platforms to request franchises from Congress.

Meanwhile, Aquino noted that it is about time to initiate the upgrade the mandate of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) and Movies Television Review Classification Board (MTRCB) as well in order to include sa the regulation of social media platforms.

“I think the KBP and MTRCB should update and upgrade so that they can help the government. I just don't think we should just sit here idly by and allow these abuses to happen,” Aquino enthused.