REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6531 - AN
ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SIX THOUSAND THIRTY, ENTITLED "AN
ACT GRANTING THE PILIPINO TELEPHONE CORPORATION A FRANCHISE TO INSTALL,
OPERATE AND MAINTAIN TELEPHONE SYSTEMS IN AND BETWEEN THE PROVINCES,
CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE BICOL PROVINCES AND MINDANAO"
Section 1. The
title of Republic Act Numbered Six thousand thirty is hereby amended to
read as follows:
"An Act granting the Pilipino Telephone Corporation a franchise to
install, operate and maintain telephone systems in certain areas
throughout the Philippines."
Sec. 2. Section one of the same Act is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"Section 1. Subject to the conditions established in
this Act and the provisions of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred
forty-six, as amended, and of the Constitution, applicable thereto,
there is hereby granted to the Pilipino Telephone Corporation,
hereinafter called the grantee, its successors or assigns, for a period
of twenty-five years from the approval of this Act, the right,
privilege and authority to construct, maintain and operate telephone
systems in Baguio City and in and between Baguio City and the following
provinces, cities and municipalities including in and between all
provinces, cities and municipalities traversed by the most feasible
routes: the Municipality of Puerto Princesa, Province of Palawan;
Municipality of Masbate, Province of Masbate; Municipality of Pili,
Province of Camarines Sur; Municipality of Jolo, Province of Sulu;
Municipality of Aparri, Province of Cagayan; Olongapo City; Bataan
Province; Municipality of Pagadian; Province of Zamboanga del Sur; and
in and between the provinces, cities and municipalities in the Bicol
Provinces, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Ilocos and Mountain
provinces; Eastern and Western Visayas, and Mindanao, it being
understood that the grantee is authorized to construct, operate and
maintain such exchanges and branch tributary lines within the
provinces, cities and municipalities traversed to correct the main
systems, as public interest may warrant. The grantee is authorized to
carry on the business of transmitting messages, signals, conversations
and pictures by means of electricity, laser beams, microwave, or other
means now known to science or which in the future may be developed for
the transmission of telecommunications, conversations, messages,
pictures and signals in and between the said provinces, cities and
municipalities, and connect systems of other countries and for the
purpose of operating said telephone systems and transmitting
telecommunications, messages, conversations, pictures, and signals by
means of electricity, laser beams, microwave and other means now known
to science or which in the future may be developed; to construct,
maintain and operate and use all apparatus, conduits, appliances,
receivers, transmitters, antennas, balloons, satellites, and equipment
necessary for the transmission of messages, conversations, pictures and
signals by means of electricity, laser beams, microwave, and other
means now known to science or which in the future may be developed; to
erect poles, structures, string wires, build conduits, lay cables,
float balloons; to construct, maintain, and use such other approved and
generally accepted means of electrical, laser beams, microwave and
other means, conduction in, on, over, or under the public roads,
government right-of-way, lands, bridges, rivers, cities, streets, lanes
and sidewalks of said provinces, cities and municipalities, and
overhead or underground or submarine lines or on the surface of the
ground or in the atmosphere as may be necessary and best adapted to
said transmission: provided, however, that all cables laid, all poles
erected and all conduits constructed or used by the grantee, its
successors or assigns, shall be located in places designated by said
grantee, with the approval of the provincial or municipal board or
council of the province, city or municipality concerned, and poles
shall be erected in a workmanlike manner to the satisfaction of the
said body: provided, further, that the poles erected, wires and cables
strung or conduits laid by virtue of this franchise shall be so placed
as not to impair the efficient and effective transmission of messages
and signals by any other company whose wires and cables are strung, or
whose conduits are actually laid at the time that the poles are to be
erected, wires and cables are strung and conduits laid under and by
virtue of this franchise: and provided, finally, that poles erected by
the grantee shall be of such a height of at least ten feet above the
level of the ground providing a height of at least fifteen feet in
crossing roads or streets and shall be so placed as not to be a danger
to public safety in accordance with a plan approved by the Secretary of
Public Works and Communications."
Sec. 3. Section seven of the same Act is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 7. The grantee, its successors or assigns,
shall keep a separate account of its gross receipts of its telephone
transmission business and shall furnish the Auditor General and
Treasurer of the Philippines a copy of such account not later than the
thirty-first day of May of each year for the twelve months ending
December thirty-one of the preceding year.
Sec. 4. Section eight of the same Act is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 8. In consideration of this franchise, the
grantee or its successors shall pay a tax equivalent to two percent of
its gross income each year within thirty days after the submission of
its accounts as prescribed in Section seven of this Act and the said
tax shall be in lieu of all other taxes, duties, assessments, stamp
taxes, licenses and fees, of whatever kind and nature, which may be
levied by any government authority now or in the future upon the
grantee's privilege, earnings, income, vehicles, machinery, equipment
and other property of whatever kind and nature.
Sec. 5. Section sixteen of the same Act is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 16. The grantee or its successors may install,
maintain, operate, purchase, lease, or manage such telephone stations,
lines, cable or telephone communication systems, as is or are,
convenient or necessary, to carry out the purpose of this franchise and
for that purpose the grantee or its successors for the duration of this
franchise, is hereby authorized to acquire, own, operate and manage by
management contract, purchase, merger, consolidation, exchange of its
shares of stock, telephone systems now owned or may hereafter be owned
by private persons, firms, corporations, or partnerships, provinces,
cities, municipalities and government-owned or controlled corporations
which are all hereby given full power and authority to do and perform
any and all acts to effect the authorized management, purchase,
consolidation, merger, exchange of shares of stock or other means of
acquisitions of the telephone systems respectively owned or operated by
them by the grantee under such terms and conditions as they and the
grantee may mutually agree upon: provided, however, that the grantee,
its successors or assigns, shall not, without the permission of the
Public Service Commission first had, install, maintain, operate and
purchase or lease such stations, lines, cables or systems.
Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
Approved: July 22, 1972
|