El Shaddai media firm, 3 others get 25-year franchise extension

President Duterte has signed several laws approving the 25-year franchise extension of four media firms, including one owned by El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde.

Republic Act No. 11303 extends the franchise of Delta Broadcasting System (DBS) Inc., which operates radio station dwXI AM 1314 kHz and DBS TV Channel 35, an ultra-high frequency television station.

DBS is owned by Velarde, the leader of the influential Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai. It may be recalled that in the recent May midterm elections, El Shaddai endorsed the senatorial bids of 10 proadministration candidates.

Duterte also signed

RA 11300, which extends the franchise of the Makati-based Filipinas Broadcasting Network; RA 11301, for the franchise extension of Ultrasonic Broadcasting System Inc. (UBSI), and RA 11302,  for the Bicol-based Peñafrancia Broadcasting Corp.

Ultrasonic Broadcasting is a Pasig City radio network owned by the SYSU Group of Companies, a distributor of imported food products. It began in 1991 with the launch of K-LOVE 1494, followed by the launch of Energy FM, UBSI’s FM radio network in Davao in 1996.