MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure extending the telecommunications franchise granted to the Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (PhilComSat) for another 25 years.
The President signed Republic Act 11226 or the act renewing PhilComSat’s franchise last Feb. 22, a copy of which was shared to the media on Thursday.
The franchise allows PhilComSat to operate “telecommunications satellite systems, satellite terminal stations, lines, cables or systems, and associated equipment and facilities for international and domestic communications.”
PhilComSat, currently owned by the Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. (POTC), was initially granted a 25-year telecommunications franchise in 1966 and was later extended for another 25 years in 1995.
The law also directs PhilComSat to secure from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) as well as the necessary permits and licenses for operation of its telecommunications systems or facilities.
The President also signed into law the measure extending the franchise of University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network (UMBN) for 25 years.
UMBN is a commercial broadcasting company in Mindanao founded in 1949 by University of Mindanao in Davao City.
UMBN operate AM and FM stations in the region while its affiliate, Ditan Communications operate FM stations in the Visayas. /muf