National Telecommunications Commission (Philippines)

NTC

Overview

The Philippines' National Telecommunications Commission (Filipino: Pambansang

Komisyon sa Telekomunikasyon), abbreviated as NTC, is an agency of the Philippine government under
the Commission on Information and Communications Technology responsible for the supervision,
adjudication and control over all telecommunications services throughout the Philippines.

National Telecommunications Commission

Pambansang Komisyon sa Telekomunikasyon
Agency overview
Formed July 23, 1979
Superseding
Communications
agency
Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon
Headquarters
City
Agency
Ruel V. Canobas, Commissioner
executive
Commission on Information and
Parent agency
Communications Technology

Composition

National Telecommunications Commission is composed of a Commissioner and two (2) Deputy

Commissioners, preferably one of whom shall be a lawyer and an economist. They shall be of unquestioned
integrity, of proven competence, and recognized as experts in their fields, related as much as possible, to
communications.

NTC is a collegial body requiring a majority vote of the three members of the commission in order
to validly decide a case or any incident therein. Corollary, the vote alone of the Chairman of the
commission is not sufficient to legally render an NTC order, resolution or decision.

Historical Background of NTC

 The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is the government agency created under
Executive Order No. 546 promulgated on July 23, 1979, and conferred with regulatory and quasi-judicial
functions taken over from the Board of Communications and the Telecommunications Control Bureau
which were abolished in the same Order.

Primarily, the NTC is the sole body that exercises jurisdiction over the supervision, adjudication
and control over all telecommunications services throughout the country. For the effective enforcement of
this responsibility, it adopts and promulgates such guidelines, rules, and regulations relative to the
establishment operation and maintenance of various telecommunications facilities and services nationwide.

Although independent insofar as its regulatory and quasi-judicial functions are

concerned, the NTC remains under the administrative supervision of the Commission on
Information and Communications Technology as an attached agency. However, with respect to
its quasi-judicial functions, NTSC’s decisions are appeal able only and directly to the
Supreme Court of the Philippines.
Timeline

1927: Act No. 3396 known as the Ship Radio Station Law was enacted. The Radio Construction and
Maintenance Section, the first radio regulatory office was charged to enforce the said law.

1931: Act No. 3846 known as the Radio Control Law was enacted. The Radio Control Division in the
Bureau of Post was created under the jurisdiction of the then Secretary of Commerce and Communications.

1939: The Radio Control Division was transferred to the Department of National Defense which was
organized pursuant to Executive Order No. 230.

1947: The Radio Control Division was again transferred to the Department of Commerce and Industry
which was created pursuant to Executive Order No. 230.

1951: Republic Act 1476 was enacted abolishing the Radio Control Board.

1962: Department Order 51 was issued changing the name of the Radio Control Division to the Radio
Control Office.

1972: The Board of Communications (BOC) was created under the Integrated Reorganization Law. It
was the first quasi-judicial body with adjudicatory powers on matters involving telecommunications
services.

1974: The Radio Control Office was renamed the Telecommunications Control Bureau.

1979: By virtue of Executive Order 546, the TCB and the BOC were integrated into a single entity now
known as the National Telecommunications Commission. The Ministry of Transportation and
Communications, which was created under the same Order has administrative jurisdiction over the NTC.

1987: President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order 125-A making the NTC an attached agency of
the Department of Transportation and Communications.

2004: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 269 creating the Commission on
Information and Communications Technology and transferring the NTC from the DOTC to the CICT.
2005: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 454 transferring the NTC back to the
DOTC.

2008: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 648 transferring the
NTC back to the CICT.

Head of Agency

List of Commissioners

Commissioner From To
Ceferino C. Carreon August 23, 1979 March 19, 1986
Tomas C. Reyes (deceased) March 14, 1986 April 1, 1986
Rosauro V. Sibal April 2, 1986 March 22, 1987
Jose Luis A. Alcuaz March 23, 1987 November 12, 1989
Josefina T. Lichauco (acting) November 13, 1989 September 3, 1991
Mariano E. Benedicto II September 4, 1991 December 31, 1992
Simeon L. Kintanar January 7, 1993 January 31, 1998
Fidelo Q. Dumlao (acting) February 1, 1998 July 15, 1998
Ponciano V. Cruz, Jr. July 16, 1998 December 14, 1998
Joseph A. Santiago December 16, 1998 February 8, 2001
Agustin R. Bengzon (acting) February 12, 2001 February 25, 2001
Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. February 26, 2001 October 8, 2002
Armi Jane R. Borje October 28, 2002 January 16, 2004
Ronald O. Solis January 19, 2004 November 29, 2006
Abraham R. Abesamis November 30, 2006 August 10, 2007
Ruel V. Canobas August 13, 2007 Present

Permits Issued by the National Telecommunications Commission

The following permits are now issued by the National Telecommunications Commission:

1. Permit to Possess
- authorizes a person, firm, company, association or corporation to possess a radio transmitter
or transceiver.

2. Permit to Own
- certifies that the holder thereof as the owner of the radio transmitter or transceiver described
therein.

3. Permit to Transfer
- authorizes a person, firm, company, association or corporation to transfer a radio transmitter
or transceiver to another person or entity or to transfer the same to another location.

4. Dealer’s Permit
- is a certificate or written authority issued to a person, firm, company, association or
corporation, legitimately engaged in the business of buying and selling radio transmitters and
transceivers.

5. Purchase Permit
- authorizes the holder thereof to purchase a radio transmitter or transceivers.

6. Permit to Import
- authorizes a person, firm, company, association or corporation to import type approved
and/or accepted radio communication equipment. NTC MC NO.9-8-91

7. Construction Permit
- is a certificate or written authority issued for the construction or installation of a radio
stations as required by these regulations.

8. Permit to Sell
- authorizes a person, firm, company to sell a radio transmitter or transceiver to a holder of a
Purchase to Permit issued by the NTC.

9. Permit to Purchase, Sell Supply or Grind Transmitter Crystal

- authorizes a person, firm, company, association or corporation to purchase, sell, supply or
grind transmitter crystals. ROC MC NO.7

10. Dealer’s or Manufacturer’s Permit for Transmitter Crystals

- authorizes a person, firm, company to engage in the business of manufacturing or dealing in
transmitter crystals.

11. Permit for Movement or Transport of Communications Equipment

- authorizes a person to move or transport any communications equipment within a specified
period of time. MC NO.33

12. Permit to Demonstrate/Propagate

- is a written authority issued to registered dealers/manufacturers of radio communication
equipment allowing them to use certain frequencies for demonstration and/or propagation test
purposes.

13. Service Center Operator

 - a person or entity engaged in the repair, service or maintenance of transmitters, transceivers
and other radio communication equipment. NTC MC NO.2-05-88

14. Radiocommunication Equipment Dealer Permit(REDP)

- authorizing the holder thereof to engage in the acquisition, servicing, maintenance, purchase
or sale of transmitters and/or transceivers, parts and accessories thereof. NTC MC NO.2-05-88

15. Radiocommunication Equipment Manufacturer Permit(REMP)

- authorizing the holder thereof to manufacture and/or assemble transmitters and transceivers
including, but not valid for solely the manufacture of parts and accessories thereof and other radio
station components. NTC MC NO.2-05-88

16. Radiocommunication Equipment Service Center Permit(RESCP)

- authorizing the holder thereof to repair or service transmitters and/or transceivers and
maintain radio communication equipment and accessories. NTC MC NO.2-05-88

17. Mobile Phone Service Center Permit(MPSCP)

- authorizing the holder thereof to engage in the repair, servicing or maintenance of mobile
phone units, parts and accessories. NTC MC NO.07-08-2004

18. Mobile Phone Dealer’s Permit(MPDP)

- authorizing the holder thereof to engage in the purchase, sale, lease and/or retail of mobile
phones, including parts and accessories.