NTC allowed radio operators, dealers to operate sans licenses, says COA

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has allowed a number of radio operators and dealers to operate even after their licenses and permits expired on December 31, 2019, the Commission on Audit (COA) has said.

In its annual audit report on NTC, state auditors said that letting these number of radio operators and dealers operate on an expired license violated Republic Ac 3846 or the Act Providing for the Regulation of Radio Stations and Radio Communications.

“The [NTC] Regional Office (RO) 13 had managed to set up a localized system capable of maintaining a database of all issued licenses of radio stations using Microsoft Access. Based on said database system, it was discovered that there were several radio operators and dealers which have expired licenses/permits as at December 31, 2019,” COA said.

“According to the Officer-in-Charge, the said operators/dealers did not visit the RO to have their license renewed. The RO, on the other hand , did not send notices of expiration of licensees due to manpower constraints and its current practice is to cater only to walk-in clients,” it added.

COA, however, did not name the said radio stations or state how many there were.

In response, NTC Region 13 argued that the lack of personnel in 2019 had hampered the operation and enforcement of the terms and conditions of the operators’ licenses and permits.

NTC Region 13 cited that it already approved four new technical positions for monitoring of the database and assured that the database would be at least sufficient in order to enforce the renewal and collection of appropriate fees, fines and penalties by the third quarter of 2020.

COA said NTC head office had also issued an Office Order to intensify the immediate action regarding the matter.

But ultimately, NTC said that the declaration of a National Health Emergency throughout the Philippines last March due to COVID-19 was a set-back on the original target date may be experienced.

COA recommended that NTC require its concerned officers to determine the status and conditions of the operations of the operators with expired licenses and permits in order to enforce its renewal and collection of appropriate fees, fines and penalties.

While NTC has allowed these local radio stations to operate without license of permit, the regulatory body issued a cease and desist against ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation last May 5 due to lack of franchise.

May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist against the network for lack of franchise.

This action made ABS-CBN on free television go off air from May 5 until the network’s franchise was eventually rejected by Congress in July, resulting in thousands of people losing jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. -NB, GMA News