SC orders NTC to collect P3.7B dues from NOW Telecom

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is set to collect over P3.7 billion in regulation fees and penalties from NOW Telecom Company Inc. following a Supreme Court clarification upholding its final ruling.

In a press release Sunday, the NTC said the high court has denied NOW Telecom’s motion for consideration with finality dated April 21, 2026, and affirmed the commission’s decision to disqualify the company from the 3G frequency assignment for unpaid SRF and Spectrum User Fee (SUF).

“The NTC will follow the Supreme Court’s direction and collect NOW Telecom’s outstanding SRF liabilities, which, as of 30 September 2025, has reached Php 3,769,408,931.66, including penalties,” the NTC said.

The dispute began when the NTC imposed the SRF and SUF after NOW Telecom made a debt-to-equity conversion, or the conversion of its debts into company shares to clear its liabilities with creditors.

“The Supreme Court held that when NOW Telecom converted its creditors’ liabilities to stock subscription, there was a corresponding increase in its capital stock in consideration for the extinguishment of the liability, which are now considered as paid stocks,” the NTC said.

As of December 2005, the high court said the telecom company had not paid its fees, leading to its disqualification from 3G frequency assignment. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News