President Duterte yesterday approved the grant of a 25-year franchise to third telecom player DITO Telecommunity Corp.
The President signed into law on May 18 Republic Act No. (RA) 11537, or “An Act Renewing for Another 25 years the Franchise Granted to Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc., Presently Known as DITO Telecommunity Corporation, under Republic Act No. 8627 entitled
An Act Granting the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc., a Franchise to Construct, Establish, Control, Maintain and Operate Wire and/or Wireless Telecommunications Systems in the Philippines.”
RA 8627 was issued on April 19, 1998, granting the telecom firm a 25-year franchise that is set to expire in April 2023. Under that law, the franchise holder should apply for the extension or renewal of the franchise three years before its expiration.
Under the new law, DITO is allowed to provide services in and between provinces, cities and municipalities in the country, and between the Philippines and other countries as well as to establish, operate, manage, lease, maintain and purchase telecom systems including mobile, cellular, wired, wireless, fiber optics, for commercial purposes and in the public interest, satellite transmission and other telecom systems. – Jocelyn Montemayor
