Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Broadcasting is the most inexpensive form of information and entertainment 
for the people. Radio, television, and cable television have provided the general public 
with news that have wide ranging consequences to their day-to-day activities, and 
entertainment that perks and stimulates the creativity of a public longing for holistic 
growth. Once upon a time, Development Communications (or Devcom) was a virtual 
beacon for those engaged in broadcasting. It was anchored on the philosophy that 
broadcasting, like all forms of communications, has to have a clearly defined 
purpose: to help facilitate communion or unity among peoples and institutions that 
would contribute to the greater good. 
FICTAP BROADCASTING NETWORK INC. is a corporation established in 
September 2020. The company's incorporators come from many different parts of 
the country - from far north all the way to the south. They have a very good grasp 
and understanding of the socio-cultural nuances of their respective communities. 
They are considered mavens of the industry and their expertise has been 
acknowledged locally and abroad. 
It is a certainty that FICTAP BROADCASTING NETWORK INC. will contribute 
immensely to the positive development of broadcast communications in the country. 
It is on this note that the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 
November 21, 2022
2:49 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 
AN ACT 
GRANTING FITCAP BROADCASTING NETWORK INC., A FRANCHISE 
TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN COMMERCIAL 
RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING, AND CABLE TELEVISION, 
STATIONS, THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise – Subject to the provisions of the 
1 
Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, there is hereby granted 
2 
FICTAP BROADCASTING NETWORK INC., hereunder referred to as the grantee, 
3 
its successors or assigns, a franchise to construct, install, operate, and maintain 
4 
for commercial purposes and in the public interest, radio and television 
5 
broadcasting stations, cable television, digital television, television white space 
6 
systems, pay service, through microwave, satellite, terrestrial, or whatever mean, 
7 
as well as the use of any technology in television systems, with the corresponding 
8 
auxiliaries and facilities, special broadcast and other programs and distribution 
9 
services and relay stations in the Philippines. 
10 
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Section 2. Manner of Operations of Facilities – The stations or facilities of 
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the grantee shall be constructed and operated in a manner that will at most 
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result only in the minimum interference on the wavelengths or frequencies of the 
14 
existing stations or other stations which may be established in accordance with 
15 
law without in any way diminishing its own right to use its selected wavelengths 
16 
or frequencies and the quality of transmission or reception thereon as should 
17 
maximize rendition of the grantee's services and/ or the availability thereof. 
18 
SECTION 3. Prior Approval of the National Telecommunications – The 
19 
grantee shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 
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the appropriate permits and licenses for its stations and shall not use any 
1 
frequency in the radio/ television spectrum without having been authorized by 
2 
the NTC. The NTC however, shall not unreasonably withhold or delay the grant 
3 
of any such authority. The grantee shall not dispose or lease its facilities except 
4 
to entities with radio or television broadcasting franchise; Provided, That the 
5 
grantee shall inform and secure written authorization to proceed from the NTC, 
6 
and report the transaction to the NTC within sixty (60) days after its completion; 
7 
Provided, further That the NTC shall determine the corresponding sanction for 
8 
any violation of this provision. In case of violation/s of any of the provisions of 
9 
this franchise, the NTC shall have the authority to revoke or suspend, after due 
10 
process, the permits, or licenses issued by the NTC pursuant to the franchise. 
11 
NTC may recommend to Congress the revocation of the franchise if there are any 
12 
violation/s of the provision of the franchise. 
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SECTION 4. Responsibility to the Public –  The grantee shall provide, free of 
15 
charge, adequate public service time which is reasonable and sufficient to enable 
16 
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 
18 
and relay important public announcements and warnings concerning public 
19 
emergencies and calamities, as necessity, urgency or law may require; provide 
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at all times sound and balanced programming; promote public participation; 
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assist in the functions of public information and education; conform to the ethics 
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of honest enterprise; promote audience sensibility and empowerment; and not 
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use its stations or facilities for the broadcasting of obscene or indecent language, 
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speech, act, or scene; or for the dissemination of deliberately false information 
25 
or willful misrepresentations, to the detriment of the public interest,; or to incite, 
26 
encourage, or assist in subversive or treasonable acts. Public service time 
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referred herein shall be equivalent to a maximum aggregate of ten percent (10%) 
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of the paid commercials or advertisements which shall be allocated based on 
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need to the Executive and Legislative branches, the Judiciary, Constitutional 
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Commissions, and international humanitarian organizations duly recognized by 
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statutes; Provided, That the NTC shall increase the public service time in case of 
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extreme emergency or calamity. The NTC shall issue rules and regulations for 
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this purpose, effectivity of which shall commence upon applicability with other 
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similarly situated broadcast network franchise holders. Pursuant to Republic Act 
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No.8370, the grantee shall allot a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the daily 
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total air time of the broadcasting network to child-friendly show/s within its 
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regular programming. 
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SECTION 5. Right of 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 and may be withdrawn any time after due process. A 
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special right is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines, in times of 
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rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster or disturbance of peace and 
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order, to temporarily take over and operate the stations of the grantee; to 
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temporarily suspend the operation of any station or facility in the interest of 
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public safety, security and public welfare; or to authorize the temporary use and 
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operation thereof by any agency of the government, upon due compensation to 
1 
the grantee, for the use of stations or facilities during the period when these shall 
2 
be so be operated. 
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SECTION 6. Term of Franchise – This franchise shall be in effect for a period 
5 
of twenty-five (25) years from the effectivity of this Act, unless sooner revoked or 
6 
cancelled. This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event the 
7 
grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years. 
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SECTION 7. Self-regulation by and Undertaking of Grantee – The grantee 
10 
shall not require any previous censorship of any speech, play, act scene, or other 
11 
matter to be broadcast from its stations, but if any such speech, play, act or 
12 
scene, or other matter should constitute a violation of the law or infringement of 
13 
a private matter should constitute a violation of private right, the grantee shall 
14 
be free from any liability, civil or criminal, for such speech, play, act or scene or 
15 
other matter; Provided, That the grantee, during any broadcast, shall cut off the 
16 
airing of speech, play, act, scene, or other matter being broadcast if the tendency 
17 
thereof is to propose and/or incite treason, rebellion or sedition; or the language 
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used therein or the theme thereof is indecent or immoral; Provided, further, That 
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willful failure to do so shall constitute a valid cause for the cancellation of this 
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franchise. 
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SECTION 8. Warranty in Favor of the National and Local Governments – 
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The grantee shall hold the national, provincial, city, and municipal governments 
25 
of the Philippines free from all claims, liabilities, demands, or actions arising out 
26 
of 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 9. Commitment to Provide and Promote the Creation of 
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Employment 
Opportunities – 
The grantee shall create employment 
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opportunities and shall allow on-the-job trainings in their franchise operation: 
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Provided, That priority shall be accorded to the residents of the place where their 
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principal office is located: Provided, further, That the grantee shall follow the 
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applicable labor standards and allowance entitlement under existing labor laws, 
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rules and regulations and similar issuances: Provided, finally That the 
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employment opportunities or jobs created shall be reflected in the General 
37 
Information Sheet (GIS) to be submitted to the Securities and Exchange 
38 
Commission (SEC) annually. 
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SECTION 10. Sale, Lease, Transfer, Grant of Usufruct, or Assignment of 
40 
Franchise – The grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct of, nor 
41 
assign this franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to any 
42 
person, firm, company, corporation or other commercial or legal entity, nor 
43 


merge with any other corporation or entity, nor the controlling interest of the 
1 
grantee be transferred simultaneously or contemporaneously, to any person, 
2 
firm, company, corporation, or entity without the prior approval of the Congress 
3 
of the Philippines. Congress shall be informed of any sale, lease, transfer, grant 
4 
of usufruct, or assignment of franchise or the rights and privileges acquired 
5 
thereunder, or of the merger or transfer of the controlling interest of the grantee, 
6 
within sixty (60) days after the completion of the said transaction. Failure to 
7 
report to Congress such change of ownership shall render the franchise ipso 
8 
facto revoked. Any person or entity to which this franchise is sold, transferred, 
9 
or assigned shall be subject to the same conditions, terms, restrictions, and 
10 
limitations of this Act. 
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SECTION 11 Dispersal of Ownership – In accordance with the constitutional 
13 
provision to encourage public participation in public utilities, the grantee shall 
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offer to Filipino citizens at least thirty percent (30%) or a higher percentage that 
15 
may hereafter be provided by law of its outstanding capital stock in any securities 
16 
exchange in the Philippines within five (5) years from the commencement of its 
17 
operations: Provided, That in cases where public offer of shares is not applicable, 
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the grantee shall apply other methods of encouraging public participation by 
19 
citizens 
and 
corporations 
operating 
public 
utilities 
allowed 
by 
law. 
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Noncompliance therewith shall render the franchise ipso facto revoked. 
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SECTION 12. Reportorial Requirement – The grantee shall submit an annual 
23 
report to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee on Legislative 
24 
Franchises of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Public 
25 
Services of the Senate, on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the 
26 
franchise and on its operations on or before April 30 of every year during the 
27 
term of its franchise. The annual report shall include an update on the roll-out, 
28 
development, operations, and/or expansion of business; audited financial 
29 
statements; latest GIS officially submitted to SEC, if applicable; certification of 
30 
the NTC on the status of its permits and operations; and an update on the 
31 
dispersal of ownership undertaking, if applicable. The reportorial compliance 
32 
certificate issued by Congress shall be required before any application for permit 
33 
or certificate is accepted by the NTC. 
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SECTION 13. Fine – Failure of the grantee to submit the requisite annual report 
36 
to Congress shall be penalized by a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) per 
37 
working day of noncompliance. The fine shall be collected by the NTC from the 
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delinquent franchise grantee separate from the reportorial penalties imposed by 
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the NTC and the same shall be remitted to the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 14. Equity Clause – Any advantage, favor, privilege, exemption, or 
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immunity granted under existing franchises, or which may hereafter be granted 
42 
for radio and/or television broadcasting upon prior review and approval of 
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Congress, shall become part of this franchise and shall be accorded immediately 
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and unconditionally to the herein grantee: Provided, That the foregoing shall 
45 


neither apply to nor affect the provisions of broadcasting franchises concerning 
1 
territorial coverage, the term, or the type of service authorized by the franchise. 
2 
 
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SECTION 15. Repealability and Nonexclusivity Clause – This franchise shall 
4 
be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines 
5 
when the public interest so requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive 
6 
grant of the privilege herein provided. 
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SECTION 16. Separability Clause – If any of the sections or provisions of this 
9 
Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
10 
 
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SECTION 17. Repealing Clause – All laws, decrees, orders, resolutions, 
12 
instructions, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which 
13 
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
14 
modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 18. 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,