Duterte signs 23 more laws, including new franchises, creation of LTO offices

President Rodrigo Duterte (File photo by KING RODRIGUEZ / Presidential Photographers Division)

MANILA, Philippines — In his last months in office, outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law 23 more measures that include the granting of franchises and the establishment of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) regular offices in some parts of the country.

The newly signed laws are:

• Republic Act No. 11759
• Republic Act No. 11758 grants the Derecho Telecommunications a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain telecommunications systems throughout the Philippines
• Republic Act No. 11757 which renews for another 25 years the franchise granted to Sultan Kudarat Telephone System Inc.
• Republic Act No. 11756 which renews for another 25 years the franchise granted to Independent Telephone Company Inc.
• Republic Act No. 11755 which converts Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur and all its campuses into a state university, integrating the North Luzon Philippine State College in Candon, Ilocos Sur to be known as the University of Ilocos Philippines
• Republic Act No. 11754 recognizes the Cabiao Campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija as a regular campus of the PUP
• Republic Act No. 11753 establishes a regular campus of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija to be known as the NEUST-Nampicuan Campus
• Republic Act No. 11752 establishes a regular campus of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija to be known as the NEUST-Sto. Domingo Campus
• Republic Act No. 11751 establishes the campuses of the Cebu Technological University in Liloan and Borbon, Cebu province to be known as CTU-Liloan and CTU-Borbon campus
• Republic Act No. 11750 establishes a regular district office of the LTO in Pagsanjan, Laguna
• Republic Act No. 11749 establishes a district office of LTO in Enrique b. Magalon in Negros Occidental
• Republic Act No. 11748 creates a regular LTO district office in Ibajay, Aklan to be known as the Western Aklan LTO Center
• Republic Act No. 11747 converts the Mabalacat City Extension Office of the LTO in Mabalacat City, Pampanga into a regular LTO district office
• Republic Act No. 11746 establishes a district office of the LTO in Cataingan, Masbate 3rd District
• Republic Act No. 11745 establishes an LTO district office in San Jose, Dinagat Islands
• Republic Act No. 11744 establishes an LTO district office in Laoang, Northern Samar
• Republic Act No. 11743 establishes a regular LTO district office in Alcot, Cebu 2nd District
• Republic Act No. 11742 converts the LTO extension office at Sigma, Capiz into a regular LTO district office to be relocated in Dumalag, Capiz
• Republic Act No. 11741 establishes an LTO district office in Liloan, Cebu
• Republic Act No. 11740 establishes an LTO district office in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental
• Republic Act No. 11739 establishes an LTO and LTFEB district office in Bacoor, Cavite
• Republic Act No. 11738 establishes an LTO district office in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon
• Republic Act No. 11727 establishes a regular LTO district office in Alicia, Isabela

Senate committee on public service Grace Poe hailed the enactment of new laws that she sponsored “to improve telecommunications and transportation services.”

“With the upgrading or setting up of new Land Transportation Offices, our people will no longer have to travel far and bear long lines to get a license or have their vehicles registered,” she said in a statement.

“Telcos that have been granted franchises are expected to rise up to the challenge of proving their competence and capacity in providing Filipinos, especially in far-flung areas, with quality and affordable connectivity and communications,” Poe added.

Poe said that with the new laws, more job opportunities are expected to become available in communities as “services expand and enhance.”

“The government and private sector must turn the corner to serve our people better and help them recover from the pandemic,” she said.

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