Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8119)
The Good News Sorsogon Foundation, Inc., its successors or assigns, is granted the franchise.
It authorizes the grantee to construct, install, operate, and maintain for religious, educational, and commercial purposes radio and television broadcasting stations within the Bicol Region with technological auxiliaries and facilities, special broadcast and program distribution services, relay stations, and private radio communication facilities.
The franchise is granted for a term of twenty-five (25) years from the date of effectivity of the Act, unless sooner revoked or cancelled.
The franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked if the grantee fails to operate continuously for two years.
The grantee must secure from the NTC the appropriate permits and licenses for its stations and is prohibited from using any frequency without NTC authorization.
The grantee must provide reasonable public service time, promote sound and balanced programming, encourage public participation, assist in public information and education, conform to ethical standards, and avoid broadcasting obscene, indecent, or deliberately false information or content inciting subversion or treason.
In times of rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order, the President may temporarily take over, suspend, or authorize government use of the stations with due compensation to the grantee.
The grantee must pay real estate, personal property taxes like other entities, and a franchise tax equivalent to three percent (3%) of gross receipts from the radio/television business. The franchise tax is in lieu of all other taxes on the franchise or its earnings but does not exempt the grantee from income tax under the National Internal Revenue Code.
No, the grantee shall not require previous censorship of any broadcast content but must cut off air any speech or program that incites treason, rebellion, sedition, or contains indecent or immoral language during the broadcast to avoid franchise cancellation.
No, the grantee cannot lease, sell, transfer, or assign the franchise or its rights, nor merge with another corporation without prior approval from the Congress of the Philippines.
The grantee must submit an annual report on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and its operations within sixty (60) days from the end of every year.
No, the franchise is not exclusive and may be amended, altered, or repealed by Congress when public interest requires.
The grantee must provide written acceptance within sixty (60) days after the approval of the Act, failing which the franchise shall be void.
The grantee agrees to hold the national, provincial, and municipal governments harmless from all claims or damages arising from accidents or injuries caused by the construction or operation of its broadcasting stations.
Willful failure to cut off such broadcasts shall be a valid cause for the cancellation of the franchise.