Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Bill Drafting Service 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative FELIMON M. ESPARES 
 AN ACT 
RENEWING FOR ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS THE 
FRANCHISE GRANTED TO IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC. 
UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9131, ENTITLED “AN ACT GRANTING 
THE IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC., A FRANCHISE TO 
CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN 
RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE 
PHILIPPINES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks the renewal of the Legislative Franchise for Broadcasting 
granted to IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC. under Republic Act No. 9131, 
entitled “AN ACT GRANTING THE IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC., A 
FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND 
MAINTAIN RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS IN 
THE PHILIPPINES”. 
Aligned with the State policy outlined in Article II, Section 24 of the 1987 
Constitution, which recognizes the essential role of communication and 
information in nation-building, IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC. 
(“IDDES”) seeks the renewal of its Legislative Franchise to continue its service 
to the Filipino people. 
Since its establishment, IDDES has utilized its franchise to build a dynamic 
network of broadcasting stations in numerous areas across the Philippines, 
consistently delivering timely information to provinces, quality entertainment, 
August 28, 2025
12:27 pm
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and news coverage that communities rely on. Beyond broadcasting, IDDES has 
also provided valuable training and livelihood opportunities to its staff, 
programmers, and local talents, fostering professional growth and economic 
activity in various regions. 
In moving forward, IDDES seeks ways to expand its community outreach 
by collaborating with local communities and educational institutions. This 
initiative aims to enrich its programming with more educational and public affairs 
content that will serve both its audience and the nation.  
Therefore, to enable IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC. to enhance and 
sustain its contributions to Philippine broadcasting and community development, 
the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  
FELIMON M. ESPARES 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Bill Drafting Service 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative FELIMON M. ESPARES 
 “AN ACT 
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RENEWING FOR ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS THE 
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FRANCHISE GRANTED TO IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC. 
UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9131, ENTITLED “AN ACT GRANTING 
THE IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC., A FRANCHISE TO 
CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN 
RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE 
PHILIPPINES” 
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 
under Republic Act. No. 9131 to IDDES BROADCAST GROUP, INC., 
(“Grantee”) its successors or assignees to construct, install, establish, operate, and 
maintain for commercial purposes and in the public interest, radio and/or 
television broadcasting stations in the Philippines, where frequencies and 
channels are still available for radio and television broadcasting, including digital 
television system, through microwave, satellite or whatever means, as well as the 
use of any new technology in radio and television systems, with the 
corresponding technological auxiliaries and facilities, special broadcast and other 
program and distribution services and relay stations, is hereby renewed for 
another twenty-five (25) years. 
Section 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 
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of existing stations or other stations which may be established by law, without in 
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any way diminishing its own privilege to use its assigned wavelengths or 
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frequencies and the quality of transmission or reception thereon should maximize 
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rendition of the Grantee's services and the availability thereof. 
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Section 3. Prior Approval of the National Telecommunications Commission. –
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The Grantee shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commission 
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(NTC) the appropriate permits and licenses for the construction and operation of 
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its stations or facilities and shall not use any frequency in the radio spectrum 
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without authorization from the NTC. The NTC, however, shall not unreasonably 
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withhold or delay the grant of any such authority.  
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In case of any violation of the provisions of this franchise, the NTC shall have 
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the authority to revoke or suspend, after due process, the permits or licenses it 
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issued pursuant to the franchise. The NTC may recommend to Congress of the 
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Philippine the revocation of the franchise for any violation of the provisions of 
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this franchise.  
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Section 4. Responsibility to the Public. – The Grantee shall provide, free of 
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charge, adequate public service time which is reasonable and sufficient to enable 
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the government, through the broadcasting stations or facilities of the Grantee, to 
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reach the pertinent populations or portions thereof, on important public issues and 
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relay important public announcements and warnings concerning public 
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emergencies and calamities, as necessity, urgency, or law may require; provide at 
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all time sound and balanced programming; promote public participation; assist in 
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the functions of public information and education; conform to the ethics of honest 
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enterprise; promote audience sensibility and empowerment including closed 
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captioning and not use its stations or facilities for the broadcasting of obscene or 
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indecent language, speech, act or scene, the dissemination of deliberately false 
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information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of public interest, or to 
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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 
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of ten percent (10%) of paid commercials or advertisements which shall be 
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allocated based on need to the Executive and Legislative branches, the Judiciary, 
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Constitutional Commissions, and international humanitarian organizations duly 
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recognized by statutes: Provided, That the NTC shall increase the public service 
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time in case of extreme emergency or calamity. The NTC shall issue rules and 
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regulations for this purpose, the effectivity of which shall commence upon 
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applicability with other similarly situated broadcast network franchise holders. 
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Furthermore, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8370, otherwise known as the 
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“Children's Television Act of 1997,” the Grantee shall allot a minimum of fifteen 
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percent (15%) of the daily total air time of each broadcasting network or station 
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to child-friendly shows within its regular programming. 
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Section 5. Right of the Government. – The radio spectrum is a finite resource that 
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is part of the national patrimony, and the use thereof is a privilege conferred upon 
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the Grantee by the State that may be withdrawn at any time after due process. 
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A special right is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines, in times of 
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war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace 
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and order: to temporarily take over and operate the stations or facilities of the 
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Grantee; to temporarily suspend the operation of any station or facility in the 
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interest of public safety, security, and public welfare; or to authorize the 
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temporary use and operation thereof by any agency of the government, upon due 
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compensation to the Grantee, for the use of said stations or facilities during the 
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period when these shall be so operated. 
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Section 6. Term of Franchise. – This franchise shall be in effect for a period of 
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twenty-five (25) years from the effectivity of this Act, unless sooner revoked or 
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cancelled. This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event the 
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Grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years.  
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Section 7. Tax Provisions. – The Grantee, its successors or assigns, shall be 
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subject to the payment of all taxes, duties, fees or charges and other impositions 
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under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended, and 
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other applicable laws: Provided, That nothing herein shall be construed as 
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repealing any specific tax exemptions, incentives, or privileges granted under any 
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relevant law: Provided, Further, That all rights, privileges, benefits and 
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exemptions accorded to existing and future broadcasting station franchises shall 
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likewise be extended to the Grantee. 
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Section 8. Self-regulation by and Undertaking of Grantee. – The Grantee shall 
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not require any previous censorship of any speech, play, act or scene, or other 
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matter to be broadcast from its stations, but if any such speech, play, act or scene, 
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or other matter should constitute a violation of the law or infringement of a private 
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right, the Grantee shall be free from any liability, civil or criminal, for such 
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speech, play, act or scene, or other matter: Provided, That the Grantee, during any 
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broadcast, shall cut off the airing of speech, play, act or scene, or other matter 
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being broadcast if the tendency thereof is to propose or incite treason, rebellion, 
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or sedition; or the language used therein or the theme thereof is indecent or 
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immoral: Provided, further, That willful failure to do so shall constitute a valid 
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cause for the cancellation of this franchise. 
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Section 9. Warranty in Favor of the National and Local Governments. – The 
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Grantee shall hold the national, provincial, city, and municipal governments of 
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the Philippines free from all claims, liabilities, demands, or actions arising out of 
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accidents causing injury to persons or damage to properties, during the 
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construction or operation of the stations of the Grantee. 
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Section 10. Commitment to Provide and Promote the Creation of Employment 
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Opportunities. – The Grantee shall create employment opportunities and accept 
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on-the-job trainees in the franchise operations: Provided, That priority shall be 
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accorded to the residents of the place where the principal office and the branches 
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of the Grantee is located: Provided, further, That the Grantee shall comply with 
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applicable labor standards and allowance entitlement under existing labor laws, 
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rules and regulations and similar issuances. 
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The employment opportunities or jobs created shall be reflected in the General 
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Information Sheet (GIS) to be submitted to the Securities and Exchange 
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Commission (SEC) annually. 
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Section 11. Sales, Lease, Transfer, Grant of Usufruct, or Assignment of 
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Franchise. – The Grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct of, nor 
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assign this franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to any 
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person, firm, company, corporation or other commercial or legal entity, nor merge 
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with any other corporations or entity, nor shall be controlling interest of the 
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Grantee be transferred, simultaneously or contemporaneously, to any person, 
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firm, company, corporation or entity without the prior approval of Congress. The 
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Grantee shall inform Congress, through the Office of the Speaker of the House of 
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Representatives and Office of the Senate President, of any sale, lease, transfer, 
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grant of usufruct, or assignment of franchise or the rights and privileges acquired 
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thereunder, or of the merger or transfer of the controlling interest of the Grantee, 
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within sixty (60) days after the completion of the said transaction. Failure to 
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report to Congress such change of ownership shall render the franchise ipso 
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facto revoked. Any person or entity to which this franchise is sold, transferred, or 
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assigned shall be subject to the same conditions, terms, restrictions, and 
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limitations of this Act. 
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Section 12. Dispersal of Ownership. – In accordance with the constitutional 
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provision to encourage public participation in public utilities, the Grantee shall 
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offer to Filipino citizens at least thirty percent (30%) of its outstanding capital 
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stocks, or a higher percentage that may hereafter be provided by law, in any 
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securities exchange in the Philippines within five (5) years from the effectivity of 
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this Act: Provided, That in cases where public offer of shares is not applicable, 
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other methods of encouraging public participation by citizens and corporations 
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operating public utilities must be implemented. Noncompliance therewith shall 
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render the franchise ipso facto revoked.  
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Section 13. Reportorial Requirement. – The Grantee shall submit an annual 
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report on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and on its 
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operations to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee on 
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Legislative Franchises of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
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Public Services of the Senate, on or before April 30 of every year during the term 
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of its franchise.  
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The annual report shall include an update on the commencement of activities, 
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development, operation or expansion of business; audited financial statements; 
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latest GIS officially submitted to the SEC, if applicable; certification of the NTC 
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on the status of its permits and operations; and an update on the dispersal of 
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ownership undertaking, if applicable. 
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The reportorial compliance certificate issued by Congress shall be required before 
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any application for permit or certificate is accepted by the NTC. 
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Section 14. Fine. – Failure of the Grantee to submit the requisite annual report to 
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Congress shall be penalized by a fine of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per 
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working day of noncompliance to the NTC. The fine shall be collected separately 
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from the reportorial penalties imposed by the NTC audit shall be remitted to the 
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Bureau of the Treasury. 
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Section 15. General Broadcast Policy Law. – The Grantee shall comply with and 
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be subject to the provisions of a general broadcast policy law which Congress 
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may hereafter enact. 
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Section 16. Equality Clause. – Any advantage, favor, privilege, exemption or 
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immunity granted under existing franchises, or which may hereafter be granted 
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for radio broadcasting, upon prior review and approval of Congress, shall become 
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part of this franchise and shall be accorded immediately and unconditionally to 
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the herein Grantee: Provided, That the foregoing shall neither apply to nor affect 
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the provisions of broadcasting franchises concerning territorial coverage, the 
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term, or the type of service authorized by the franchise. 
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Section 17. Repealability and Nonexclusivity Clause. – This franchise shall be 
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subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by Congress when the public interest 
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so requires ad shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privileges herein 
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provided for. 
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Section 18. Separability Clause. – If any of the sections or provisions of this Act 
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is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
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Section 19. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, resolutions, 
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instructions, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
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modified accordingly. 
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Section 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,  
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