Republic Act No. 5117

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1. Cotabato

Visayan Development Corporation is hereby granted a franchise to establish, maintain and operate private fixed point-to-point, private coastal, private aeronautical and land-based and land-mobile radio stations in the Municipality of Makati, Province of Rizal, in the City of Manila, Rajah Buayan City, Municipality of Dadiañgas, Province of Cotabato, and in places within the Philippines where it operates its business and/or where the interest of its trade and business activities may justify, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, for the transmission and reception of wireless messages on radiotelegraph or radiotelephone to and from said stations.

Section 2

This franchise shall continue to be in force for a period of twenty-five years and is granted upon the express condition that the same shall be void unless construction or installation of at least one station be begun within two years from the date of approval of this Act and be completed within four years from said date.

The President of the Philippines shall have the power and authority to permit the location of said private fixed point-to-point, private coastal, private aeronautical and land-based and land-mobile radio stations on any land of the public domain upon such terms as he may prescribe.

Section 3

The grantee shall not engage in domestic business of telecommunications in the Philippines without further assent of the Congress of the Philippines, it being understood that the purpose of this franchise is to secure for the grantee the right to establish, maintain and operate private fixed point-to-point, private coastal, private aeronautical and land-based and land-mobile radio stations at places herein stated for no other purpose than to promote, protect and subserve the trade and business interests of the grantee.

Section 4

No fees shall be charged by the radio stations that may be established by virtue of this Act shall engage in communications regarding the grantee’s business only.

Section 5

The grantee shall so construct and operate its radio stations as not to interfere with the operation of other radio stations maintained and operated in the Philippines.

Section 6

The grantee is authorized to operate its radio stations on the frequency and/or frequencies that may be assigned to it by the Secretary of Public Works and Communications.

Section 7

A special privilege is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines in time of war, insurrection, public peril, calamity or disaster, to cause the closing of the grantee’s radio stations or to authorize the temporary use or possession thereof by any department of the Government upon payment of just compensation.

Section 8

This franchise shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines when the public service so requires, and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privilege herein provided for.

Section 9

Whenever in this Act the term "grantee" is used, it shall be held and understood to mean and represent Cotabato-Visayan Development Corporation, its representatives, successors or assigns.

Section 10

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 17, 1967.