Grant of Radio Station Franchise to Bataan Iron and Steel Corp.

June 17, 1961

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3115

AN ACT GRANTING THE BATAAN IRON AND STEEL CORPORATION A FRANCHISE TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE PRIVATE FIXED POINT-TO-POINT, PRIVATE COASTAL, PRIVATE AERONAUTICAL AND LAND-BASED AND LAND-MOBILE RADIO STATIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF WIRELESS MESSAGES TO AND FROM SAID STATIONS

SECTION 1. The Bataan Iron and Steel Corporation is hereby granted a franchise to establish, maintain and operate private fixed point-to-point, private coastal, private aeronautical and land-based and land-mobile radio stations in the City of Manila, in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and in such places within the Philippines where it operates its business and/or the interest of its trade and business activities justify, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, for the transmission and reception of wireless messages on radiotelegraphy or radiotelephony to and from said stations.

SECTION 2. This franchise shall continue to be in force for a period of forty-five years and is granted upon the express condition that the same shall be void unless the construction or installation of at least one station be begun within two years from the date of approval of this Act and be completed within four years from said date.

The President of the Philippines shall have the power and authority to permit the location of said private fixed point-to-point, private coastal, private aeronautical and land-based and land-mobile radio stations on any land of the public domain upon such term as he may prescribe.

SECTION 3. The grantee shall not engage in domestic business of telecommunications in the Philippines without further assent of the Congress of the Philippines, it being understood that the purpose of this franchise is to secure to the grantee the right to establish, maintain and operate private fixed point-to-point, private coastal, private aeronautical and land-based and land-mobile radio stations at the places hereinabove stated for no other purpose than to promote, protect and subserve the trade and business interests of the grantee.

SECTION 4. No fees shall be charged by the grantee as the radio stations that may be established by virtue of this Act shall engage in communications regarding the grantee's business only.

SECTION 5. The grantee shall so construct and operate its stations as not to interfere with the operation of other radio stations maintained and operated in the Philippines.

SECTION 6. The grantee is authorized to operate its radio stations on the frequency and/or frequencies that may be assigned to it by Secretary of Public Works and Communications.

SECTION 7. A special right is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines, in time of war, insurrection, public peril, calamity, or disaster to cause the closing of the grantee's radio stations or to authorize the temporary use or possession thereof by any department of the Government, upon just compensation.

SECTION 8. This franchise shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines when the public service so requires, and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privilege herein provided for.

SECTION 9. Whenever in this Act the term "grantee" is used, it shall be held and understood to mean and represent the Bataan Iron and Steel Corporation, its representatives, successors or assigns.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 17, 1961

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 58, No. 1, p. 18 on January 1, 1962.