Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 4402)
Lazaro B. Belgica is granted a franchise to construct, maintain, and operate radio broadcasting and television stations for commercial purposes and in the public interest in the Philippines.
The franchise is valid for a period of twenty-five years.
Construction of at least one radio broadcasting or television station must begin within two years from the date of approval of the Act and must be completed within four years from said date.
The grantee must provide public service time to enable the government to reach the population on important public issues and assist in the functions of public information and education.
The grantee shall conform to the ethics of honest enterprise and shall not use the stations to broadcast or telecast obscene or indecent language, acts, or scenes, nor disseminate deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation, or any content detrimental to public health or that incites subversive or treasonable acts.
Any more favorable terms granted to a competing franchise shall ipso facto become part of the terms of this franchise and shall operate equally in favor of the grantee.
The President may cause the closing of the grantee's station or authorize its use or possession by any government department without compensation to the grantee during war, rebellion, public peril, or other national emergency.
No, the grantee shall not require previous censorship; however, the grantee must cut off any broadcast material that tends to incite treason, rebellion, or sedition, or that is indecent or immoral during the broadcast or telecast, failure of which is ground for franchise cancellation.
The franchise cannot be leased, transferred, sold, assigned, or merged without prior approval of the Congress of the Philippines.
No, this Act shall not be interpreted as granting an exclusive franchise.