Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOusEBrirfu^N.d?      6617
Introduced by: REP. RACHEL MARGUERITE "CUTIE" DEL MAR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Exodus  Broadcasting  Company,  Inc.  ("Exodus")  is  a  100°/o  Filipino-
owned  multi-generational family corporation  registered with  the  Securities
and Exchange Commission on 11 October 1993 with the primary purpose of
engaging in the business of radio broadcasting on a commercial basis and to
act as an advertising agent. It was granted a nationwide legislative franchise
under Republic Act No. 8603,I which lapsed into law on March 26,  1998.
Exodus  is the  sole  and  current owner of the WRocK brand  of radio
stations  and  its  corresponding  LjteRock  music  programming,  which  was
conceptualized  in  the  late  1980's  and  first  hit  the  ailwaves  in  1988.  The
brand has not reformatted since then, enabling Exodus to build a loyal base
of audiences all throughout the country and even to listeners abroad; but it
remains ever~relevant to the masses by injecting new music and tapering off
old music as the new decade approaches. Exodus also promotes responsible
citizenry  through  its  time-and-tested  award-winning  WRocK  brand  and
LjteRock programming as it is designed to  primarily inform,  educate,  and
entertain the public through a healthy balance of music, news snippets, and
informative segments which promotes good and timeless Filipino values.
I AN ACT GRANTING THE ExODus BROAneASTING cO., INc., A FRANCHlsE TO cONSTRucT,
INSTALL,  ESTABLISH,  OPERATE  AND  MAINTAIN  RADIO AND  TELEVISION  STATIONS  IN  THE
PHILIPPINES.


With the advent of online technology, the company has been able to
digitally expand the geographical reach of its radio  station DYRK~FM  96.3
WRocK Cebu beyond its area of F`M coverage via WRocK Online - an online
livestreaming simulcast listened to by millions of local Filipinos nationwide
whilst also delivering a slice of home to migrant Filipinos worldwide.
Exodus  is  seeking  to  renew  its  legislative  franchise  for  another  25
years   in   order  to   support  its   plans   to   expand   its   WRocK   brand   by
establishing  stations  in  key  cities  nationwide  and  delivering  integrated
online and on-ground activities to its local areas of operation. Exodus aims
to  deliver the  same  quality of programming which  F`ilipinos  have  come  to
love  in  the  past  two  decades  all  while  advocating  and  promoting  good
Filipino values on a more-scaled national level.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
RACHEL
GUERITE "CUTIE"  DEL MAR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
1 . ~ . rt
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by: REP. RACHEL MARGUERITE "CUTIE" DEL MAR
JAV ACT
RENEWING THE FRANCHISE GRAI[TED TO EXODUS BROADCASTING
cO., INc. ron ANOTHER TWENFT-FlvE (25) ymRs oR A TERM THAT
SIIALL TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 18, 2023
B_e it enacted by fl}e penate cnd. Horuse Of Representatives Of t:he Philippines in
Congress assembled..
Section  1.   Natrrie  and  Scope  a/  Franchise.  -  Subject  to  the
provisions  of the  1987  Philippine  Constitution  and  applicable  laws,  rules
and  regulations,  the  franchise  granted  to  Exodus  Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc.,
under   Republic   Act   No.   8603   entitled   "An   Act   Gntzntt-rig   the   Exocztts
Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc.  a Franchise to  Coust"ct,  Ius±all,  Establish,  Operate
and Mainlaln Radio  and Television  Stations in the  Phittppi:res", herounder
referred to as the grantee,  its  successors or assigns,  to construct,  install,
establish, operate, and maintain for commercial purposes and in the public
interest,  radio  and/or  television  broadcasting  stations,  including  digital
television system, through microwave, satellite or whatever means, including
the use of any new technologies in television and radio  systems, with the
corresponding technological auxiliaries  and facilities, special broadcast and
other program and distribution services and relay stations in the Philippines
is hereby renewed  for another twenty-five  (25)  years from  the  effectivity of
this Act.


Seetton 2.   Manner Of Qpera€ton Of Sta:tioris or Faciunies. -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
he 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 availability thereof.
Sectbon S.  Prior Approval Of the  National Telecorinitiunieattone
Corrlmiss€on.     -     The     grantee     shall     secure     from     the     National
Telecommunications   Commission    (NTC)    the   appropriate   perlnits   and
licenses for the construction and operation of its stations and 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.
Section 4. Responstz.Zzzty to the ntzpzzc.  - 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.
Section 5. Right a/ Gouemment. -  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
2


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 or facilities during
the period when these shall be so operated.
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.
Section 6.  remi a/ rmnchis& - This franchise shall be in effect for
a period of twenty-five (25) years from April 18, 2023, unless sooner revoked
or cancelled. This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event
the grantee falls to operate continuously for two (2) years.
Section 7.   Acceptance and Coapl!anoe. - Acceptance of this new
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.
Nonacceptance shall render the franchise void.
Section 8. Seifregurdfion bg and Undertahi:ng Of Ctwntee. -  The
graritee 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 to do so shall constitute a valid cause for the cancellation of
this franchise.
3


Sect3!on 9. Warraiirty ir. Fa:\]or Of Nafuonal and I]ocal Gouem:rne"ts.
-  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  operation  of the  stations  of  the
8rantee.
S®ctto-   LO.   Sake,   I&ase,   Transfer,   Grant   Of   Usrufroct,   or
Assignment a/ 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,  firln,  company,  corporation  or  other
commercial or legal entity, nor merge with any other corporation or entity,
nor shall the controlling interest of the grantee be transferred, whether as a
whole  or  in  parts,  and  whether simultaneously or contemporaneously,  to
any  such  person,  firm,  company,  corporation  or  entity without  the  prior
approval of the Congress  of the  Philippines:  ProtH.czec!,  That Congress  shall
be  informed  of  any  lease,   transfer,   granting  the  usufruct  of,   sale   or
assignment of franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder, or
of the merger, or transfer of controlling interest of the grantee, within sixty
(60)  days  after  the  completion  of said  transaction:  Prour.czed, jitrfher,  That
failure  to  report  to  Congress  such  change  of ownership  shall  render  the
franchise  I.pso /cicto revoked:  ProLH.czed, jincz[dy, That 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..
Section  11.  Gerieraz  Broadcast  Pozzq=/  Iq[z4i.  -The  grantee  shall
comply with and be subject to the provisions of a general broadcast policy
law, which Congress may hereafter enact.
Section  12. Reportorfal Reqti€nement.   - The grantee shall submit
an annual report to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee
on   I,egislative   Franchises   of   the   House   of   Representatives   and   the
Committee  on  Public  Services  of the  Senate,  on  its  compliance  with  the
4


terms  and  conditions  of the  franchise  and  on  its  operations on  or before
April 30 of every year during the temi of the franchise.
Section  13.   Pena[tE/ Chause. - Failure to submit the annual report
to Congress will be penalized with 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.  The  collected  funds  shall  accrue  to  the  monitoring
fund of the NTC  in line with its  supervisory and regulatory functions.  The
reportorial  compliance  certificate  issued  by  Congress  shall  be  required
before any application for permit or certificate is accepted by the NTC.
Section   14.   Edyual€tE/  C[ouse.   -  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:  ProzH.decz,  hotueLJer,  That  the  foregoing  shall  neither  apply  to  nor
affect provisions of broadcasting franchises concerning territory covered by
the franchise, the life span of the franchise, or the type of service authorized
by the franchise: ProzH.czecz, rfurfher, That the foregoing shall not apply to sale,
lease,  transfer,  or  grant  of  usufruct  of  legislative  franchise  with  prior
congressional approval..
Section   15.   Separab£Zitg/   Czdz4§e.   -   If  any   of  the   sections   or
provisions of this Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby
shall remain valid.
Se®tton  16.  Repeatabtuny  and  Nonexctustvity  Ctouse.    -  rrhis
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.
5


Slection  17.   E/Tectiulty Chaltse. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15)  days  after  its  publication  in  at  least  two  (2)  newspapers  of general
circulation.
Approved,
6