Senate grants franchise to airline firm,
electric coop and telcos

The Senate today approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to grant a franchise to an airline company to establish, operate and maintain domestic and international transport services.

The bill is among the pending legislation passed by the Senate before both houses of Congress will convene as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) to canvass the votes for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the May 9 elections.

Sen. Serge Osmeña, acting chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said the passage of House Bill 6021 into law would grant the Pilipinas Asian Pearl Airways, Inc., a 25- year franchise unless it is revoked or cancelled.

Under the bill, the franchise shall be deemed revoked if the company fails to follow the following conditions: commence operations within one year from the approval of its permit by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), secure an air operator certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) within the same period of its application for a CAB permit, operate continuously for two years and commence operations within two years after it was signed into law.

The Senate also approved on final reading 13 other local bills seeking to renew the franchise of an electric company and television and telecommunications networks.

Osmeña said the passage of House Bills 6053 (Zoe Broadcasting, Inc.), 5859 (People's Broadcasting Service, Inc.), 5601 (Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corporation or PT&T), 6168 (Byers Communication, Inc.), 6193 (Kalayaan Broadcasting System), into law would renew the franchises of the establishments for another 25 years.

On the other hand, House Bills 2185 (First Bay Power Corp), 6003 (Ama Telecommunciations, Inc), 6005 (Infinivan, Inc.), 6011 (Veritas Media Arts Inc.), 6312 (Metro Connections and Telecom Corp), 6313 (Makinig Network, Inc), 6314 (Megamanila Telecom Corp) and 6315 (Pilipinas Radio Waves Corp.) are new franchise applications for 25 years each.

He said the continued operation of the establishments would generate additional jobs, create career opportunities and continue to provide the people with information to help them in their daily lives.

Osmeña said the enterprises had complied with the requirements prescribed by the law such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). (Pilar S. Macrohon)