1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to renew the franchise granted to Wave Network, Inc. under Republic Act No. 8408 
entitled “AN ACT GRANTING WAVE NETWORK, INC. A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, 
ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS ANYWHERE IN 
THE PHILIPPINES WHERE FREQUENCIES AND/OR CHANNELS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR 
RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING,” which was approved on November 23, 1997. 
Wave Network, Inc. is a broadcasting network that currently serves the Eastern Visayas region. It 
has radio and television stations in Samar and Leyte Provinces—with transmission sites and studios located 
in the municipalities of Salcedo, Borongan, Dolores, and Catarman, and the cities of Catbalogan, Baybay, 
Ormoc and Tacloban. The network plays a crucial role in the timely dissemination of information on current 
events, traffic, weather reports, community service announcements and local news to the listening public. 
As a broadcasting entity, it has endeavored to deliver quality news and entertainment programs in the local 
dialect, knowing that radio remains to be the reliable and cost-effective medium that engages audiences of 
all demographic profiles.  
In pursuit of extending Wave Network, Inc.’s commitment to public service, the immediate renewal 
of its franchise is sought to ensure that wholesome entertainment and balanced news reporting is made 
accessible to Filipinos in Region 8 and beyond.  
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 
July 21, 2025
3:36 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _________________ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
RENEWING FOR ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS THE FRANCHISE 
GRANTED TO WAVE NETWORK, INC. UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8408, 
ENTITLED "AN ACT GRANTING WAVE NETWORK, INC. A FRANCHISE TO 
CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RADIO AND 
TELEVISION STATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE PHILIPPINES WHERE 
FREQUENCIES AND/OR CHANNELS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR RADIO AND 
TELEVISION BROADCASTING" 
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 Wave Network, 
Inc., hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assignees, under Republic Act No. 8408, 
to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain for commercial purposes and in the public 
interest, radio and television broadcasting stations in the Philippines where frequencies and/or 
channels are still available, including digital television systems through microwave, satellite or 
whatever means, as well as the use of any new technology in television and radio systems such as 
Multichannel Multi- point Distribution Systems (MMDS), Local Multi-point Distribution Systems 
(LMDS), Microwave Cable Television (MCTV), Multi-point Video Distribution System (MVDS), 
Direct To Home Satellite System (DTH-S), Wireless Multi-media Network System (WMNS), 
Digital Television Broadcast (DTB), Next Generation Television Broadcast (NEXTGENTV), 
Interactive Television (ITV), with corresponding technological auxiliaries and facilities, special 
broadcast and other program and distribution services and relay stations in the Philippines, 
including synthetic and artificial intelligence, and other technology that may hereafter or in the 
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future be developed, is hereby renewed for another twenty-five (25) years from the effectivity 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 minimum 
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 privilege 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. Prior Approval of the National Telecommunications Commission. – The grantee 
shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commissions (NTC) the appropriate permits 
and licenses for the construction and operation of its stations or facilities and shall not use any 
frequency in the radio/television spectrum without authorization from the NTC. The NTC, 
however, shall not unreasonably withhold or delay the grant of any such authority. 
 
The grantee shall not dispose or lease its facilities except to entities with radio or television 
broadcasting franchise: Provided, That the grantee shall inform and secure written authorization 
to proceed from the NTC and report the transaction to the NTC within sixty (60) days after its 
completion: Provided, further, That the NTC shall determine the corresponding sanction for any 
violation 
of 
this 
provision. 
 
In case of violation/s of any of the provisions of this franchise, the NTC shall have the 
authority to revoke or suspend, after due process, the permits, or licenses issued by the NTC 
pursuant to the franchise. NTC may recommend to Congress the revocation of the franchise if 
there are any violation/s of the provisions of the franchise. 
 
 
SEC. 4. Responsibility to the Public. – The grantee shall provide, free of charge, adequate 
public service time which is reasonable and sufficient to enable the government, through the 
broadcasting stations or facilities of the grantee, to reach the pertinent populations or portions 
thereof, on important public issues and relay important public announcements and warnings 
concerning public emergencies and calamities, as necessity, urgency or law may require; provide 
at all times sound and balanced programming; promote public participation; assist in the functions 
of public information and education; conform to the ethics of honest enterprise; promote audience 
sensibility and empowerment including closed captioning; and not use its stations or facilities for 
the broadcasting of obscene or indecent language, speech, act or scene; or for the dissemination of 
deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of public interest; or 
to 
incite, 
encourage, 
or 
assist 
in 
subversive 
or 
treasonable 
acts. 
 


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Public service time referred herein shall be equivalent to a maximum aggregate of ten 
(10%) of the paid commercials or advertisements which shall be allocated based on need to the 
Executive and Legislative branches, the Judiciary, Constitutional Commissions, and international 
humanitarian organizations duly recognized by statutes: Provided, That the NTC shall increase the 
public service time in case of extreme emergency or calamity. The NTC shall issue rules and 
regulations for this purpose, the effectivity of which shall commence upon applicability with other 
similarly 
situated 
broadcast 
network 
franchise 
holders. 
 
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 8370, the grantee shall allot a minimum of fifteen percent 
(15%) of the daily total airtime of each broadcasting network to child-friendly show/s within its 
regular programming. 
 
 
SEC. 5. 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 or facilities of the grantee; to temporarily suspend 
the operation of any station or facility 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 the station or facilities during the period when these 
shall be so operated. 
 
 
SEC. 6. Term of Franchise. – This franchise shall be in effect for a period of twenty- five 
(25) years from 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. 7. Self-regulation by and Undertaking of the Grantee. – The grantee shall not 
require any previous censorship of any speech, play, act or scene, or other matter to be broadcast 
from its stations, but if any such speech, play, act or scene, or other matter should constitute a 
violation of the law or infringement of a private right, the grantee shall be free from any liability, 
civil or criminal, for such speech, play, act or scene, or other matter: Provided, That the grantee, 
during any broadcast, shall cut off the airing of speech, play, act or scene, or other matter being 
broadcast if the tendency thereof is to propose and/or incite treason, rebellion or sedition; or the 
language used therein or the theme thereof is indecent or immoral: Provided, further, That willful 
failure to do so shall constitute a valid cause for the cancellation of this franchise. 
 


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SEC. 8.  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, demands, or actions arising out of accidents causing injury to persons or damage 
to properties, during the construction or operation of the stations of the grantee. 
 
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 operations: Provided, That priority shall be accorded to the residents of 
the place where their principal office 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 (SEC) annually. 
 
 
SEC. 10. Sale, Lease, Transfer, Grant of 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 merge with any other corporation or entity, nor the controlling 
interest of the grantee be transferred, simultaneously or contemporaneously, 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 Congress such change of ownership shall render the franchise ipso 
facto revoked. Any person or entity to which this franchise is sold, transferred, or assigned shall 
be subject to the same conditions, terms, restrictions, and limitations of this Act. 
 
SEC. 11. Dispersal of Ownership. – In accordance with the constitutional provision to 
encourage public participation in public utilities, the grantee shall offer to Filipino citizens at least 
thirty percent (30%) or a higher percentage that may hereafter be provided by law of its outstanding 
capital stock in any securities exchange in the Philippines within five (5) years from the 
commencement of its operations: Provided, That in cases where public offer of shares is not 
applicable, the grantee shall apply other methods of encouraging public participation by citizens 
and corporation operating public utilities as allowed by law. Noncompliance therewith shall render 
the 
franchise 
ipso 
facto 
revoked. 
 
SEC. 12.  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 


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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 annual report shall include an update on the roll-out, development, operation and/or 
expansion of business; audited financial statements; latest 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 undertaking, if applicable. 
 
SEC. 13. Fine.- Failure of the grantee to submit the requisite annual report to Congress 
shall be penalized by a fine of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance. 
The fine shall be collected by the NTC from the delinquent franchise grantee separate from the 
reportorial penalties imposed by the NTC and the same shall be remitted to the Bureau of the 
Treasury. 
 
SEC. 14. 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 broadcasting franchises concerning 
territorial coverage, the term, or the type of service authorized by the franchise. 
 
SEC. 15.  Repealability and Non-exclusivity 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. 16. Separability Clause. – If any of these sections or provisions of this Act is held 
invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
 
SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, resolutions, instructions, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act 
are 
hereby 
repealed, 
amended, 
or 
modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 18. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,