President Duterte signs 25-year franchise extension to MVP firm, 6 others

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed laws providing a 25-year franchise extension to six companies and a university, including the Nation Broadcasting Corporation, which is owned by tech mogul Manny V. Pangilinan (NBC).

On Friday, Malacaan released the following measures, all of which Duterte approved and signed last Tuesday, March 29:

• Republic Act No. 11664 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Franciscan Broadcasting Corporation.
• Republic Act No. 11665 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Iriga Telephone Company, Inc.
• Republic Act No. 11666 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Soundstream Broadcasting Corporation
• Republic Act No. 11667 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Nation Broadcasting Corporation of the Philippines.
• Republic Act No. 11668 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to GV Broadcasting System, Inc. or Cignal TV
• Republic Act No. 11669 renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Enrique M. Orozco and Sons, Inc. or Real Radio Network, Inc.

Mediaquest Holdings, Inc., which is a subsidiary of telco business Philippine Long Distance Telephone, owns NBC (PLDT).

Duterte also signed Republic Act 11670, which authorizes the University of Southern Mindanao to build, develop, operate, and maintain radio broadcasting stations in Cotabato for educational and related reasons.