FILE A telecommunication tower. Image from NTC website
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law measures granting a 25-year franchise extension to six firms, among them the Nation Broadcasting Corporation of the Philippines (NBC) owned by tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan.
NBC is a subsidiary of Mediaquest Holdings Inc., which also owned several other media corporations, and an affiliate of the telecommunications company, Philippine Long Distance Telepone.
Malacañang on Friday released the following measures approved by Duterte, all of which he signed last Tuesday, March 29:
- Republic Act No. 11664 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Franciscan Broadcasting Corporation.
- Republic Act No. 11665 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Iriga Telephone Company, Inc.
- Republic Act No. 11666 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Soundstream Broadcasting Corporation
- Republic Act No. 11667 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Nation Broadcasting Corporation of the Philippines.
- Republic Act No. 11668 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to GV Broadcasting System, Inc. or Cignal TV
- Republic Act No. 11669 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Enrique M. Orozco and Sons, Inc. or Real Radio Network, Inc.
Duterte also granted a franchise to the University of Southern Mindanao to establish, maintain and operate radio broadcasting stations in Cotabato for educational and related purposes.
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