By Azer Parrocha
Four bills granting or renewing the franchise of telecommunications companies have lapsed into law.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte allowed the measures to lapse on May 27, 2022, sans his signature.
Republic Acts (RA) No. 11773, 11774, 11801 renew for another 25 years the franchises granted to Panay Telephone Corporation, Calapan Telephone System, Inc., and Victorias Telephone System, Inc., respectively.
RA 11775 grants the estate of Mr. Amado L. Ola, OPC, doing business as Amapola Broadcasting System, a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain radio and television broadcasting stations in the Philippines.
All laws require the grantees to secure from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) a certificate of public convenience and necessity or the appropriate permits and licenses.
"In case of any violation of the provisions of this franchise, the NTC shall have the authority to revoke or suspend, after due process, the permits or licenses it issued pursuant to the franchise. The NTC may recommend to Congress the revocation of the franchise for any violation of the provisions of this franchise," the laws read.
Under the laws, the grantees must “conform to the ethics of honest enterprise and not use its stations or facilities for obscene or indecent transmission, or for dissemination of deliberately false information, or willful misrepresentation, or assist in subversive or treasonable acts.”
The laws also give the President of the Philippines a special right to temporarily take over and operate the stations, transmitters, facilities, or equipment of the grantees “in times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order.”
Grantees must also submit an annual report on their compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and on its operations to the Congress through the committee on legislative franchises of the House of Representatives and the committee on public services of the Senate on or before April 30 of every year during the term of its franchise.
Failure to submit the annual report to Congress will be penalized with a fine of PHP1 million for each working day of noncompliance.
Renaming roads
Meanwhile, Duterte also allowed two measures renaming roads to lapse into law on May 29, 2022 without his signature.
RA 11797 renames the Bogo-Curva-Medellin-Daanbantayan-Maya Road, stretching from Barangay Don Pedro Rodriguez in the City of Bogo, as Juan Macaraeg Highway.
RA 11798 renames the Marawi City-Kapai-Tagoloan II in Lanao del Sur Road, stretching from Barangay Banggolo Poblacion in the City of Marawi as Senator Ahmad Domocao Alangadi Alonto Sr. National Road.
The Department of Public Works and Highways must issue the necessary rules, orders, and circulars to implement the provisions of the laws within 60 days from effectivity.
Separating, converting schools
Five laws separating and converting schools also lapsed into law on May 29, 2022.
RA 11793 separates the Rodolfo V. Pamor Jr. Memorial National High School-Sagñay Southeastern High School Annex in Barangay Turague, Municipality of Sagñay, Province of Camarines Sur from the Rodolfo V. Pamor Jr. Memorial High School and converted into an independent national high school to be known as Turague National High School.
RA 11794 separates the Dulop National High School-Bag-ong Valencia Extension in Barangay Bag-ong Valencia, Municipality of Dumingag, Province of Zamboanga del Sur from the Dulop National High School and converted into an independent national high school to be known as the Bag-ong Valencia Agricultural National High School.
RA 11795 separates the Datu Danwata Elementary School-Agik-ik Extension in Barangay Datu Danwata, Municipality of Malita, Province of Davao Occidental from the Datu Danwata Elementary School and converted into an independent elementary school to be known as the Agik-ik Elementary School.
RA 11796 separates the Datu Danwata Elementary School-TFS of Balis Extension in Barangay Datu Danwata, Municipality of Malita, Province of Davao Occidental from the Datu Danwata Elementary School and converted into an independent elementary school to be known as the Balis Elementary School.
RA 11824 converts the Kinangan Elementary School in Barangay Kinangan, Municipality of Malita, Province of Davao Occidental into an integrated school to be known as Kinangan Integrated School.
The Department of Education Secretary must promulgate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of the laws within 60 days after the approval of the laws.
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