MANILA (Mabuhay) – Rep. Susan A. Yap (2nd District, Tarlac) has filed a measure increasing penalties against Public Communications Entities (PCE) for violation of the terms and conditions of any certificate, authority, order, decision, resolution or regulation of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
“In order to ensure compliance by the Public Communications Entities with the law and the NTC’s certificate, authority, order, decision, resolution or regulation, it is necessary to impose higher penalties and to provide a legal mechanism to allow the NTC to adjust penalties based on a rational standard,” said Yap in House Bill 6161.
Yap said the penalty imposed in Section 21, Chapter IV (Penalties and Violations) of Commonwealth Act 146 amounts only to PHP200 per day of violation, and the penalty under Section 23 is a maximum of PHP25,000 imposable fines or an imprisonment not exceeding five years.
“These penalties are obsolete and insignificant given the high level of income earned by Public Communications Entities,” Yap said.
The bill seeks to increase the fines and penalties of Public Telecommunications Entities to PHP300,000 but not exceeding PHP5,000,000 for every day during which such default or violation continues.
Likewise, the NTC is authorized and empowered to impose such fine, after due notice and hearing.(MNS)