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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
5054

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B, REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to renew the franchise granted to CENTURY
COMMUNICATIONS MARKETING CENTER, INC. under Republic Act No. 8133
entitled, “AN ACT GRANTING CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS MARKETING
CENTER, INC., A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, OPERATE AND
MAINTAIN FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES RADIO AND TELEVISION
BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES” dated July 16, 1995.

CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS MARKETING CENTER, INC. (CCMCI)
established its first radio station in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte and within the period
of its authority, it has grown into fifteen (15) radio stations covering almost all regions of
the country. Since CCMCT's mission lies on serving people through public service, its
profit has been flowed back always to the listening public by establishing more radio
stations and continuously upgrading its equipment, therefore creating more jobs for the
Filipino talents.

For thrity-two (32) years now, since its organization, CCMCI serves as an
important instrument in information dissemination that bridges communication gaps
among the populace of the country. It is able to provide sound and balance programming,
as rendered by its broadcasting stations that make information readily accessible to the
public, It has also frequently communicated with the people on important issues
concerning public interest.

Considering that CCMCI has made appropriate use of its franchise, complied with
the provisions thereof, invested significantly in broadcasting stations and equipment and
intends to continue and expand its operations, it is only proper for Congress to renew the
franchise of CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS MARKETING CENTER, INC. to
operate radio and television broadcasting stations in the country.

‘The support of the Members of Congress for the prompt and timely passage of
this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. STRIKE B. REVILLA
2"4 District of Cavite,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. 5054

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

AN ACT RENEWING THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO CENTURY
COMMUNICTIONS MARKETING CENTER, INC. UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO.
8133 ENTITLED, “AN ACT GRANTING CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS
MARKETING CENTER, INC., A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL,
OPERATE AND MAINTAIN FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES RADIO AND.
TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES”, FOR ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS FROM THE
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.

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, a franchise is hereby granted
again to Century Communications Marketing Center, Inc., hereunder referred to as the
Grantee, its successors or assigns, to construct, install, operate and maintain for
commercial purposes and in the public interest, radio and television broadcasting stations
in the Philippines where frequencies or channels are still available for radio or television
broadcasting, including digital television, through microwave, satellite, or whatever
means, including the use of any new technologies in television and radio systems, with
corresponding technological auxiliaries and facilities, special broadcast, and othe
program and distribution services and relay stations.

SEC. 2 Manner of Operation of Stations or Facilities. - The stations or
facilities of the Grantee shall be constructed and operated in a manner that will result, at
most, only in 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 the rendition of the
Grantee's services and the availability thereof.

SEC. 3. Prior Approval of the National Telecommunications Commission. - The
Grantee shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) the
appropriate permits and licenses for the construction of its stations and facilities and
shall not use any frequency in the radio and television spectrum without authorization
from the NTC; Provided, that the NTC shall not unreasonably delay or withhold the
grant of any such authority.

SEC. 4. Responsibility (0 the Public. - The grantee shall provide adequate public
service time to enable the government, through the said broadcasting stations or facilities,
to reach the population on important public issues; provide at all times sound and
balanced programming; assist in the functions of public information and education;
conform to the ethics of honest enterprise; and not use its stations and facilities 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 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 its stations or facilities during the period
when they shall be so operated.

The radio spectrum is 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.

SEC. 6. Term of Franchise. - This franchise shall be for a term of twenty-five (25)
years from the effectivity of this Act, unless sooner revoked or cancelled. This franchise
shall be ipso facto revoked in the event the Grantee fails to operate continuously for two
(2) years.

SEC. 7. Acceptance and Compliance. ~ Acceptance of this new franchise by the
Grantee 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 60 days from the effectivity of this Act. Upon
giving of such acceptance, the Grantee shall exercise the privileges granted under this
Act. Non-acceptance of this franchise within the period provide herein shall render the
same void,

SEC. 8. Self-regulation by and Undertaking of 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; Provided, that the Grantee, during any broadcast, shall cut
off from the air the 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 of the Grantee to do so shall constitute a valid cause for the cancellation of this
franchise.

SEC. 9. Warranty in Favor of National and Local Governments. — The Grantee
shall hold the national, provincial, city and municipal governments of the Philippines free
from all claims, accounts, demands, or actions arising out of accidents or injuries,
whether to property or to persons, caused by the construction or operations of the stations
of the Grantee,

SEC. 10. Sale, Lease, Transfer, Grant of Usufruct, or Assignment of Franchise, —
The Grantee shall not lease, transfer, grant the usufruct of, sell 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
shall transfer its controlling interest, whether as a whole or in part, and whether
simultaneously or contemporaneously, to any such person, frim, company, corporation or
entity without the prior approval of the Congress of the Philippines. 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. General Broadcast Policy Law. — The Grantee shall comply with and
be subject to the provisions of a general broadcast policy law, which the Congress of the
Philippines may hereafter enact.

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 terms and conditions of the franchise and on its operations on or
before April 30 of every year during the term of this franchise.


SEC. 13, Equality Clause. - Any advantage, favor, privilege, exemption, or
immunity granted under existing franchises or which may hereafter be granted for radio
or television broadcasting, upon prior review and approval of Congress of the
Philippines, shall automatically become part of this franchise and shall be accorded
immediately and unconditionally to the Grantee; Provided, that the foregoing shall
neither apply to nor affect the provisions of broadcasting franchises concerning territory
covered by such franchise, the life span of the franchise or the type of service authorized
by the franchise,

SEC. 14. Separability Clause, — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 15. Repealing Cause. ~ The franchise shall be subject to amendment,
modification, or repeal bythe Congress of the Philippines, when the public interest so
requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privileges herein
provided.

SEC. 16. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect immediately fifteen after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,