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MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed numerous bills renewing five broadcast companies’ 25-year legislative franchises, including Cignal TV Inc.

On March 29, Duterte signed Republic Acts (RA) 11664, 11666, 11667, 11668, and 11669, extending for another 25 years the franchises of Franciscan Broadcasting Corp., Soundstream Broadcasting Corp., National Broadcasting Corp., Cignal TV Inc., and Real Radio Network Inc.

The grantees have the right to build, install, create, operate, and maintain radio broadcasting stations anywhere in the country when frequencies or channels are still available for radio broadcasting, according to the legislation.

They must get the necessary permissions and licenses from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for the building and operation of their stations or facilities.

The NTC, on the other hand, is not allowed to “unreasonably” refuse or postpone the issuance of permits and licenses.

The statutes empower the NTC to withdraw or suspend, without due process, the grantee’s permits or licenses for violating the franchise’s terms.

The NTC may also recommend that the franchise be revoked to Congress.

If the grantees do not operate continuously for two years, the franchise will be declared ipso facto (by the fact itself) revoked.

The laws require broadcasting companies to provide free and adequate public service time that is reasonable and sufficient to allow the government to reach the relevant populations on important public issues and relay important public announcements and warnings concerning public emergencies and calamities, as necessity, urgency, or the law may require.

The executive and legislative branches, the judiciary, Constitutional commissions, and international humanitarian organizations will each receive a maximum of 10% of paid commercials or advertisements, which will be allocated based on the need of the executive and legislative branches, the judiciary, and Constitutional commissions.

In times of war, insurrection, public risk, tragedy, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order, the Philippine president has the “special right” to temporarily take over and run the grantees’ stations or facilities, according to the legislation.

Any station can also be shut down by the Philippine president “in the interest of public safety, security, and welfare.”

The grantees are not allowed to sell, lease, transfer, grant, or assign the franchise to any individual, firm, company, corporation, or other commercial or legal organization.

They must also submit an annual report to Congress on their compliance with the franchise’s terms and conditions, as well as its activities.

An update on the rollout, development, operation, or expansion of their business; audited financial statements; the most recent GIS officially submitted to the SEC, if applicable; certification of the NTC on the status of its permits and operations; and an update on the dispersal of ownership and undertaking, if applicable are all required to be included in the annual report.

Before any application for permission or certificate is accepted by the NTC, the reportorial compliance certificate granted by Congress will be necessary.

Duterte also signed RA 11670 on March 29, allowing the University of Southern Mindanao to build, install, establish, manage, and maintain radio broadcasting stations in the province of Cotabato for educational and other related objectives, as well as the public interest.

Duterte also signed RA 11665, which allows the Iriga Telephone Company Inc. to build, install, establish, operate, and maintain wired and wireless telecommunications systems, fiber optics, and all other telecommunications system technologies in the province of Camarines Sur and its cities for commercial and public-interest purposes.

The Iriga Telephone Company Inc. is required by RA 11665 to follow the principles of honest business and not use its stations or facilities for obscene and indecent transmission, publication of intentionally false information, willful misrepresentation, or to aid in subversive or treasonous acts.

It must also improve and expand its services in underserved areas, as well as hazard- and typhoon-prone areas defined by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, or its legal successor, in consultation with the NTC.

The NTC must approve the Iriga Telephone Company Inc.’s charges and rates for telecommunications services, with the exception of those that may be proclaimed or regarded as nonregulated services, whether flat rates, measured rates, or fluctuations.

On Thursday, Malacanang distributed a copy of the laws.

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