REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4555 - AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED TWO THOUSAND AND FORTY-FOUR,
ENTITLED "AN ACT GRANTING JOSEPH DE CASTRO A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT,
INSTALL, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE RADIOTELEGRAPH AND/OR RADIOTELEPHONE
STATIONS IN MANILA, LEGASPI, TACLOBAN, DAVAO, ZAMBOANGA AND CAGAYAN DE
ORO"
Section 1. Section one of Republic Act Numbered Two thousand
forty-four, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"Section 1. There is hereby granted to the Oceanic
Wireless Network, Incorporated, a Filipino corporation duly organized
and existing under the laws of the Philippines, hereinafter referred to
as the "grantee," a franchise to construct, install, maintain,
establish and operate, in such places in the Philippines as the grantee
may select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Public Works
and Communications or any licensing authority, public point-to-point
commercial communication stations and systems by radio, wire, cable,
satellites, and other means now known to science or which in the future
may be developed for the reception and transmission of messages or
record facsimile and voice, encompassing radio-telegraph-teletype and
telephone with the corresponding relay stations, in the maritime,
aeronautical and point-to-point international communication services,
to communicate with vessels at sea and aircrafts in the air, within and
outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines, both foreign
and of national registry, and stations in the broadcasting, television,
radiophoto and facsimile services both national and international, to
provide aforesaid communication services and equipment to private
firms, companies and corporations for operation within their respective
internal framework, and/or to communicate from within with grantee's
station or stations in the network, public fixed land based
point-to-point and land mobile stations."
Sec. 2. The same Act is hereby amended by
inserting between Section s one and two thereof the following sections:
"Sec. 1-A. Subject to the limitations and procedure
prescribed by law, the grantee is authorized to exercise the right of
eminent domain insofar as may be reasonably necessary to further the
establishment and efficient maintenance and operation of its
communication systems, and, with the prior approval of the Secretary of
Public Works and Communications or any proper authority, the grantee is
authorized to construct and maintain its works of public utility and
service over and across public property of the Philippines, including
streets, highways, squares and reservations, reservations, underground
and overhead, and other similar property of the Government of the
Philippines and its branches.
"Sec. 1-B. For the purpose of carrying out the
privilege granted herein, the grantee may avail of, utilize, through
purchase, lease, or other forms of arrangement with third parties, any
other kinds or means of communication systems now known to science or
which in the future may be developed."
Sec. 3. Section Nine-A of the same Act as inserted
by Republic Act Numbered Two thousand three hundred fifty-seven is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 9-A. In consideration of the franchise and
rights hereby granted and any provisions of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the grantee shall pay the same taxes as are now or may
hereafter be required by law from other individuals, co-partnerships,
private, public or quasi-public associations, corporations, or joint
stock companies, on real estate, buildings and other personal property
except radio equipment, machinery and spare parts needed in connection
with the business of the grantee, which shall be exempt from customs
duties, tariffs and other taxes, as well as those properties declared
exempt in this section. In consideration of the franchise, a tax equal
to one and one-half per centum of all gross receipts from the business
transacted under this franchise by the grantee shall be paid to the
Treasurer of the Philippines each year, within ten days after the audit
and approval of the accounts as prescribed in this Act. Said tax shall
be in lieu of any and all taxes of any kind, nature or description
levied, established or collected by any authority whatsoever,
municipal, provincial or national, from which taxes the grantee is
hereby expressly exempted.
Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
Approved: June 19, 1965
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