[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6531, July 22, 1972 ]
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."
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
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 system in certain areas throughout the Philippines."
Section 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 the 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 with in 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 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 science or which in the future may be developed; to construct, maintain and operate and use all apparatus, conduits, appliances, receivers, transmitters, antennaes 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 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 strung and conduits laid under and by virtue of his 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."
Section 3. Section seven of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 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."1âшphi1
Section 4. Section eight of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 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 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."
Section 5. Section sixteen of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 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."
Section 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Enacted without the Executive approval, July 22, 1972.
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