Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 5812)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 5812 is to grant Villa Escudero Corporation (VESCO) a temporary permit to construct, operate, and maintain private fixed point-to-point, land-based, land mobile, aeronautical, and marine-borne radio stations for the transmission and reception of radio communications within the Philippines.
VESCO is authorized to operate private fixed point-to-point, land-based, land mobile, aeronautical, and marine-borne radio stations.
VESCO may construct and operate radio stations at its main office in San Pablo City, Manila, Lucena City, Tiaong in the Province of Quezon, on its vehicles, and such other places as it may select subject to approval by the Secretary of Public Works and Communications or a competent authority.
No. Section 3 specifies that VESCO shall not engage in the domestic telecommunications business in the Philippines without further special assent from the Congress of the Philippines. The permit is only for radio communications related to VESCO's business interests.
The President may cause the closing of VESCO's stations, or authorize temporary use or possession by any government department during times of war, insurrection, emergency, calamity, or disaster, with just compensation to VESCO.
No. Section 5 states that no fees shall be charged by VESCO since the communications are only for the grantee’s business.
VESCO must construct and operate its radio stations so as not to interfere with the operations of other radio stations in the Philippines.
VESCO shall hold the national, provincial, city, and municipal governments harmless from all claims or actions arising out of accidents or injuries related to the construction or operation of its radio stations.
VESCO is authorized to operate its radio stations in the medium frequency, high frequency, and very high frequency bands assigned by the licensing authority.
Yes. Section 10 provides that this temporary permit can be amended, altered, or repealed by the Congress of the Philippines when the public interest so requires, and it is not an exclusive grant of privilege.