PRESIDENT Duterte signed five new laws granting to or extending the broadcast franchise of concerned government and private sector entities.
Among those he signed are Republic Act 11538, which granted franchise to construct, install, and operate a radio broadcasting station to the city government of Davao; RA 11540, which extended the franchise for the radio and television broadcast of the University of the Philippines by another 25 years; and RA 11541, which granted a nationwide television and radio broadcast franchise to Palawan Broadcasting Corporation.
For the private sector, Duterte signed RA 11539 granting Instant Data Inc. the right to maintain telecommunication systems nationwide; and RA 11542, which gives a franchise to Highland Broadcasting Network Corp. for operation television and radio broadcast in Mindanao.
The franchises shall be in effect for 25 years from the date of the effectivity of the laws unless sooner canceled.
The renewal of the franchises may be done three years before expiration.
All of the measures were signed on May 18, 2021, but were only released to the media on Thursday.
These laws will only take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.