Monopolies in media?

The Constitution Article, 16, General Provisions, Section 10, mandates: “The State shall provide the policy environment for the full development of Filipino capability and the emergence of communication structures suitable to the needs and aspirations of the nation and the balanced flow of information into, out of, and across the country…” Highlighted terms are “policy environment”, “full development of Filipino capability”, “communication structures,” “balanced flow of information.”

Further, Sec. 11 (1) specifies provisional limitations as, “Ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, corporations, etc., wholly owned and managed by such citizens.” In the same section it provides: “The Congress shall regulate or prohibit monopolies in commercial mass media when the public interest so requires. No combinations in restraint of trade or unfair competitions therein shall be allowed.”

The obvious questions that require asking: 1) Is there a policy environment for the full development of Filipino capability in the emergence of communication structures suitable to the needs and aspirations of the nation? 2) Balanced flow of information across the country etc.? The answers tend towards the negative. 3) Do we even aspire to launch our own communication platforms, even satellites? 4) For private and government use? 5) Do we have enough structures and systems to expedite a people talking to each other with feedback to government? Government talking with itself till the local government level? For agencies vested with front line services, inventory and people-intensive? 6) Open the market to more players for competition to include telecoms? 7) Faster Internet services?

8) Should not government build its own communication/info platforms aside from state media? Particularly, to strengthen response time of public service? With secure lines and fire walls, etc., for national security when top officials are in conference, in an age where info and communications are weaponized? Should government officials be even using private and unsecured systems with no legal limitations, e.g., on a personal FB account? 9) Are there media outlets locally fronted for foreign capital? 10) Do media monopolies exist? 11) Is owning a TV network, radio, newspaper, cable corporation considered a monopoly? Or any combinations? Is our democratic discourse strengthened or are we reduced to a captured gawking audience by business elites?