Sen. Grace Poe sponsors the bills in plenary. Screen grab/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has approved on third and final reading the franchise bills of 19 telecommunication and broadcasting companies and a measure seeking to expand the franchise granted to Davao City for its radio stations.
During Monday’s session, just days before Congress goes on break this week until after the May elections, senators passed House bills seeking the grant and renewal of legislative franchises to institutions and companies operating across the country.
Among these bills include House Bill No. 9384, which proposes the expansion of the franchise given to the Davao City government for its radio broadcasting stations.
The Senate also passed separate bills granting franchises to Mount Apo Science Foundation College Inc., Capricom Broadcasting Network Corp., Amapola Broadcasting System, South Cotabato Communications Corp., Prime Broadcasting Network Inc., National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and GVM Radio/TV Corp.
The bills for the franchises of the following firms were also approved to allow them to put up and maintain their respective telecommunications systems and services:
• Ismo Inc.
• Aspire Media Technologies and Ventures Inc.
• Linkserve Telecommunications Network Inc.
• Derecho Telecommunications Inc.
• Unicorn Communications Corp.
• Purple Flower Telecommunication Corp.
• Calapan Telephone System Inc.
• Bicol Telephone and Telegraph Inc.
• Lukban Telephone System Inc.
• Continental Telecommunications System Inc.
• Victorias Telephone System Inc.
• General Telephone System Inc.
The bills were sponsored in plenary by Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee.
Poe also sponsored the approved local bills seeking to establish, convert, and upgrade the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in 32 locations across the Philippines.
These include LTO offices in the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga del Sur and Bukidnon, among several others.
Senators also approved three House bills seeking to establish the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board offices in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Bacoor City, Cavite and in Dasmariñas, Cavite.