[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11340, April 27, 2019 ]
AN ACT RENEWING THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO RADIO MARINE NETWORK, INCORPORATED, UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4607, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7512
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise. -Subject to the provisions of the.Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, the franchise granted to Radio Marine Network, Incorporated under Republic Act No. 4607, as amended by Republic Act No. 7512, hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assignees, to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain for commercial purposes and in the public interest, within or without the Philippines, wire and/or wireless telecommunications systems including mobile cellular, copper, fiber optics, satellite transmit and receive systems, switches, and their value-added services such as the transmission of voice, data, control signs, audio and video and information services; radio stations for the reception and transmission of messages on radio stations in the domestic public fixed point-to-point and public base, aeronautical and land mobile stations, including coastal marine service with the corresponding relay stations for the reception and transmission of wireless messages on radiotelegraphy and/or radiotelephony, radioteletype, radiophoto, facsimile and such other types of emissions or both with vessels at sea and aircraft in the air within or without the Philippines; and all other telecommunications system technologies as are at present available or will be made available through technological advances tr innovations in the future; and/or construct, acquire, lease and operate, or manage transmitting and receiving stations, lines, cables, or systems as are convenient or essential to efficiently carry out the purpose of this franchise, is hereby renewed for another twenty-five (25) years from the effectivitry of this Act.
SEC. 2. Manner of Operation of Stations or Facilities. -The stations or facilities of the grantee shall be constructed and operated in a manner as will, at most, result only in the .mini-mum interference on the wavelengths or frequencies of existing stations or other stations which may be established by law, without in any way diminishing its own right to use its assigned wavelengths or frequencies and the quality of transmission or reception thereon as should maximize rendition of the grantee's services and/or the availability thereof.
SEC. 3. Authority of the National Telecommunications Commission. - The grantee shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or the appropriate permits and licenses for the construction, installation and operation of its telecommunications systems or facilities. In issuing the certificate, the NTC shall have the power to impose such conditions relative to the construction, operation, maintenance, or service level of the telecommunications system. The NTC shall have the authority to regulate the construction and operation of its telecommunications systems. The grantee shall not use any frequency in the radio spectrum without authorization from the NTC. Such certificate shall state the areas covered and the date the grantee shall commence the service. The NTC, however, shall not unreasonably withhold or delay the grant of such authority, permit or license.
SEC. 4. Excavation and Restoration Works. - For the purpose of erecting and maintaining poles or other supports for said wires or other conductors for the purpose of laying and maintaining underground wires, cables, or other conductors, it shall be lawful for the grantee, its successors or assignees, with the prior approval of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or the local government unit (LGU) concerned, as may be appropriate, to make excavations or lay conduits in any of the public places, roads, highways, streets, lanes, alleys, avenues, sidewalks, or bridges of the province, cities and/or municipalities: Provided, however, That a public place, road, highway, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk, or bridge disturbed, altered or changed by reason of erection of poles or other supports or the underground laying of wires, other conductors or conduits, shall be repaired and replaced in workmanlike manner by said grantee, its successors or assignees, in accordance with the standards set by the DPWH or LGU concerned. Should the grantee, its successors or assignees, after the ten (10)-day notice from the said authority, fail, refuse, or neglect to repair or replace any part of public place, road, highway, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk, or bridge disturbed, altered or changed by the said grantee, its successors or assignees, then the DPWH or LGU concerned shall have the right to have the same repaired and placed in good order and condition at double the amount spent for such repair or replacement, to be charged against the grantee, its successors or assignees.
SEC. 5. Responsibility to the Public. - The grantee shall conform to the ethics of honest enterprise and not use its stations or facilities for obscene or indecent transmission, or for dissemination of deliberately false information, or willful misrepresentation, or assist in subversive or treasonable acts.
The grantee shall operate and maintain all its stations, lines, cables, systems, and equipment for the transmission and reception of messages, signals, and pulses in a satisfactory manner at all times and, as far as economical and practicable, modify, improve, or change such stations, lines, cables, systems, and equipment to keep abreast with the advances in science and technology.
The grantee shall improve and extend its services in areas not yet served, and in hazard- and typhoon-prone areas that shall be determined by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in coordination with the NTC.
The grantee shall also improve and upgrade its equipment, facilities and services, in order to ensure effective compliance with the objectives of Republic Act No. 10639 or "The Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act".
SEC. 6. Rates for Services. — The charges and rates for telecommunications services of the grantee, except the rates and charges on those that may hereafter be declared or considered as nonregulated services, whether flat rates or measured rates or variation thereof, shall be subject to the approval of the NTC or its legal successor. The rates to be charged by the grantee shall be unbundled, separable and distinct among the services offered and shall be determined in a manner that regulated services do not subsidize the unregulated ones.
SEC. 7. Right of the Government. - The radio spectrum is a finite resource that is part of the national patrimony and the use thereof is a privilege conferred upon the grantee by the State and may be withdrawn any time after due process.
A special right is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines, in times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order: to temporarily take over and operate the stations, transmitters, facilities, or equipment of the grantee; to temporarily suspend the operation of any station, transmitter, facility, or equipment in the interest of public safety, security, and public welfare; or to authorize the temporary use and operation thereof by any agency of the government, upon due compensation to the grantee, for the use of said stations, transmitters, facilities, or equipment during the period when these shall be so operated.
SEC. 8. Term of Franchise. - This franchise shall be in effect for a period of twenty-five (25) years from the date of the effectivity of this Act, unless sooner revoked or cancelled. This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years.
SEC. 9. Commitment to Provide and Promote the Creation of Employment Opportunities. — The grantee shall create employment opportunities and shall allow on-the-job trainings in their franchise operation: Provided, That the priority shall be accorded to the residents in area where any of its offices is located: Provided, further, That the grantee shall follow the applicable labor standards and allowance entitlement under existing labor laws, rules and regulations and similar issuances: Provided, finally, That the employment opportunities or jobs created shall be reflected in the General Information Sheet (GIS) to be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission annually.
SEC. 10. Acceptance and Compliance. — Acceptance of this franchise shall be given in writing to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee on Legislative Franchises of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Public Services of the Senate, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. Upon giving such acceptance, the grantee shall exercise the privileges granted under this Act. Refusal or failure to accept the franchise shall render the franchise void.
SEC. 11. Right of Interconnection. — The grantee is hereby authorized to connect or demand connection of its telecommunications systems to other telecommunications systems installed, operated, and maintained by any other duly authorized person or entity in the Philippines for the purpose of providing extended and improved telecommunications services to the public, under the terms and conditions mutually agreed upon by the parties concerned. This right shall be subject to the review and modification of the NTC.
SEC. 12. Warranty in Favor of the National and Local Governments. - The grantee shall hold the national, provincial, city, and municipal governments of the Philippines free from all claims, liabilities, accounts, demands, or actions arising out of accidents causing injury to persons or damage to properties, during the construction or operation of the stations, transmitters, facilities, or equipment of the grantee.
SEC. 13. Sale, Lease, Transfer, Usufruct, or Assignment of Franchise. - The grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct of, nor assign this franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to any person, firm, company, corporation or other commercial or legal entity, nor shall transfer the controlling interest of the grantee, simultaneously to any person, firm, company, corporation, or entity without the prior approval of the Congress of the Philippines. Congress shall be informed of any sale, lease, transfer, grant of usufruct or assignment of franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder, or of the merger or transfer of the controlling interest of the grantee within sixty (60) days after the completion of the said transaction. Failure to report to Congress such change of ownership shall render the franchise ipso facto revoked. Any person or entity to which this franchise is validly sold, transferred, or assigned shall be subject to the same conditions, terms, restrictions, and limitations of this Act.
SEC. 14. Dispersal of Ownership. — In accordance with the constitutional provision to encourage public participation in public utilities, the grantee shall continue to offer to Filipino citizens at least thirty percent (30%) or a higher percentage that may hereafter be provided by law of its common stocks in any securities exchange in the Philippines within five (5) years from the renewal of its franchise: Provided, That in cases where public offer of shares is not applicable, establishment of cooperatives operating public utilities must be implemented. Noncompliance therewith shall render the franchise ipso facto revoked.
SEC. 15. Compliance with Labor Standards. — The grantee, its successors or assignees shall comply with the applicable labor standards under existing labor laws, rules and regulations and such other issuances as may be promulgated by the Department of Labor and Employment, taking into consideration the nature and peculiarities of the telecommunications industry.
SEC. 16. Reportorial Requirement. - The grantee shall submit an annual report to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee on Legislative Franchises of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Public Services of the Senate, on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and on its operations on or before April 30 of every year during the term of its franchise. "The reportorial compliance certificate issued by Congress shall be required before any application for permit or certificate is accepted by the NTC.
SEC. 17. Penalty Clause. - Failure of the grantee to submit the requisite annual report to Congress shall be penalized by a fine in the amount of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance. The fine shall be collected separately by the NTC distinct from the penalties it imposes for noncompliance of its own reportorial requirements.
SEC. 18. Equality Clause. — Any advantage, favor, privilege, exemption, or immunity granted under existing franchises, or which may hereafter be granted for radio and/or television broadcasting, upon prior review and approval of Congress, shall become part of this franchise and shall be accorded immediately and unconditionally to the herein grantee: Provided, That the foregoing shall neither apply to nor affect the provisions of a broadcasting franchise pertaining to the term, type of service, or territorial coverage of the franchise.
SEC. 19. Repeatability and Nonexclusivity Clause. - This franchise shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines when the public interest so requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privileges herein, provided for.
SEC. 20. Separability Clause. - If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.
SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts or provisions thereof which are not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 22. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publieation in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
(SGD.) VICENTE C. SOTTO III President of the Senate | (SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO Speaker of the House of Representatives |
This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives on February 6,2018, amended by the Senate of the Philippines on February 6, 2019, and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on February 8, 2019.
(SGD.) MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA Secretary of the Senate | (SGD.) DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING Acting Secretary General House of Representatives |
Approved: Lapsed into law on APR 27 2019 Without the signature of the President In accordance with Article VI Section 27(1) of the Constitution
(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
President of the Philippines