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Friday, March 29, 2024

House confirms validity of Mislatel franchise

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The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises chairperson Franz “Chicoy” E. Alvarez sent a letter to the National Telecommunications Commission regarding the latter’s request for guidance on the validity and existence of Republic Act No. 8627, entitled “An Act Granting the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company Inc., a Franchise to Construct, Establish, Install, Maintain and Operate Wire and/or Wireless Telecommunications Systems in the Philippines.”

“To date, the Committee [on Legislative Franchises] has not received any notice of a judgment from any judicial or quasi-judicial body revoking or cancelling the franchise granted to MISLATEL through R.A. 8627.” In other words, MISLATEL’s franchise remains valid and subsisting,” Alvarez said.

Based on a committee report submitted by the Committee Affairs Office on October 23, 1997, the House approved the application of MISLATEL through House Bill No. 10073, which eventually passed into law in the form of R.A. 8627.

It was, however, pointed out that MISLATEL has failed to diligently submit within 60 days from the end of every year the required annual report to Congress. Nevertheless, non-compliance with said reportorial requirement did not affect the validity of MISLATEL’s franchise.

“Truly, HoR’s clarification finally addressed the public’s concern with the eligibility of Mislatel in joining the NMP selection process after a former government official alleged that Mislatel’s franchise was automatically revoked in 2003 for its failure to join the stock market,’ Rep. Alvarez said.

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