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PHILIPPINE LAWS, STATUTES & CODES
A collection of Philippine laws, statutes and codes not included or cited in the main indices of the Chan Robles Virtual Law Library.
Republic Acts :
REPUBLIC ACTS
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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7967 - AN ACT
GRANTING THE PACIFIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC., A FRANCHISE TO
CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RADIO AND TELEVISION
BROADCASTING STATIONS WITHIN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES |
Section 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise. — Subject to the
provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and
regulations, there is hereby granted to the Pacific Broadcasting
System, Inc., hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or
assigns a franchise to construct, install, operate and maintain for
commercial purposes and in the public interest radio and television
broadcasting stations in the Philippines with the corresponding
technological auxiliaries or facilities, special broadcast and other
broadcast distribution services and relay stations, and to construct,
install, operate and maintain communication facilities for the
grantee's private use in its broadcast services.
Sec. 2. Manner of Operations of Stations or Facilities. — The existing and future stations or facilities of the grantee shall be constructed and operated in a manner as will at most result only in the minimum interference on the wavelengths or frequencies of the other existing station or stations which may be established by law without in any way diminishing its own right to use its selected 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. Prior Approval of the National Telecommunications Commission. — The grantee shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commission the appropriate permits and licenses for its stations and shall not use any frequency in the radio and television spectrum without having been authorized by the Commission. The Commission, however, shall not unreasonably withhold or delay the grant of any such authority. Sec. 4. Responsibility to the Public. — The grantee shall provide reasonable public service time to enable the government, through the said broadcasting stations, to reach the population on important public issues; provide at all times sound and balanced programming; promote public participation such as in community programming; assist in the functions of public information and education; conform to the ethics of honest enterprise; and not use its stations for the broadcasting of obscene and indecent language, speech, act or scene, or for the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation to the detriment of the public interest; or to incite, encourage, or assist in subversive or treasonable acts. Sec. 5. Right of Government. — A special right is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines in times of rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster or disturbance of peace and order, to temporarily take over and operate the stations of the grantee, temporarily suspend the operation of any station in the interest of public safety, security, and public welfare, or 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 during the period when they shall be so operated. Sec. 6. Term of Franchise. — This franchise shall be for a term of twenty-five (25) years from the date of approval of this Act, unless sooner revoked or cancelled. In the event the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years, this franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked. Sec. 7. Acceptance and Compliance. — Acceptance of this franchise shall be given in writing sixty (60) days after approval of this Act. Upon giving such acceptance, the grantee shall exercise the privileges granted under this Act. Non-acceptance shall render the franchise void. Sec. 8. Tax provisions. — The grantee, its
successors or assigns shall be liable to pay the same taxes on their
real estate, buildings and personal property, exclusive of this
franchise, as other persons or corporations are now or hereafter may be
required by law to pay. In addition thereto, the grantee, its
successors or assigns shall pay a franchise tax equivalent to three
percent (3%) of all gross receipts of the radio/television business
transacted under this franchise by the grantee, its successors or
assigns and the said percentage shall be in lieu of all taxes on this
franchise or earnings thereof: provided, that the grantee, its
successors or assigns shall continue to be liable for income taxes
payable under Title II of the National Internal Revenue Code pursuant
to Sec. 2 of Executive Order No. 72 unless the latter enactment is
amended or repealed, in which case the amendment or repeal shall be
applicable thereto. Sec. 9. Public ownership. — In compliance with the
constitutional mandate to democratize ownership of public utilities,
the herein grantee shall make public offering through the stock
exchanges of at least thirty percent (30%) of its common stock within a
period of three (3) years from the date of effectivity of this Act:
provided, that no single person or entity shall be allowed to own more
than five percent (5%) of the stock offerings. Approved: March 30, 1995 |
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