NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed legislation extending for another 25 years the franchises awarded to Smart Broadband, Inc. and five other telecommunication companies.

According to copies handed to Palace reporters on Monday, Duterte signed all six bills on April 8.

Meridian Telekoms, Inc., dba Smart Broadband, Inc., will be able to “build, install, establish, maintain, lease, and operate wire and/or wireless telecommunications systems across the Philippines” under Republic Act 11678.

Smart Broadband, Inc. was required under RA 11678 to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or the necessary permissions and licenses from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Smart Broadband, Inc. was also forbidden from “selling, leasing, transferring, granting the usufruct of, or assigning this franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to any person, firm, company, corporation, or other commercial legal entity, nor merging with any other corporation or entity, nor transferring the Grantee’s controlling interest to any person, firm, company, corporation, or entity, without prior approval o

If Smart Broadband, Inc. fails to submit the required yearly report to Congress, a fine of PHP1 million will be applied.

In addition, Duterte signed the following documents:

RA 11674 – An act extending the Mati Telephone Corporation’s franchise granted under Republic Act 8675, “An act granting the Mati Telephone Corporation a franchise to construct, establish, install, maintain, and operate a local exchange network in the province of Davao Oriental,” for another 25 years.

RA 11675 – An act renewing the franchise granted to Odiongan Telephone Corporation under Republic Act 8956, “An act granting the Odiongan Telephone Corporation a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain a local exchange network in the province of Romblon,” for another 25 years.

RA 11676 – An act renewing the franchise granted to R.C. Yulo Telephone System, Inc. under Republic Act 8348, titled “An act granting the RC Yulo Telephone System, Inc. a franchise to construct, establish, install, maintain, and operate local exchange network in the municipalities of Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, Murcia, Himamaylan, and Isabela, province of Negros Occidental,” for another 25 years.

RA 11677 – An act renewing the franchise granted to Marbel Telephone System, Inc. (MTSI) under Republic Act 8449, titled “An act granting the Marbel Telephone System, Inc. a franchise to construct, establish, install, maintain, and operate a local exchange network in the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani” for another 25 years.

RA 11679 – An Act extending the franchise granted to Bicol Telephone and Telegraph, Inc. under Republic Act 8342, “An act granting the Bicol Telephone and Telegraph, Inc. a franchise to construct, establish, install, maintain, and operate a local exchange network in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon,” for another 25 years.

Duterte also signed two franchise legislation, one for a state university and the other for two telecoms companies:

Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. is granted a franchise to build, install, operate, and maintain radio and television stations in the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi under Republic Act 11673.

RA 11681 – An act authorizing Capricom Broadcasting Network Corp. to build, install, operate, and maintain radio and television broadcasting stations in Tabaco City, Albay Province, and other parts of the Philippines.

RA 11680 – An act providing Southern Luzon State University a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain radio and television broadcasting stations on its campuses in the province of Quezon for educational and other related purposes.

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