Tarlac representative Susan A. Yap has filed a measure increasing penalties against telecommunications firms who would violate orders and regulations of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
“In order to ensure compliance by the Public Communications Entities (PCEs) 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 P200.00 per day of violation, and the penalty under Section 23 is a maximum of P25,000 imposable fines or an imprisonment not exceeding five years.
“These penalties are obsolete and insignificant given the high level of income earned by PCEs,” Yap said, using the formal name of telephone companies.
The bill seeks to increase the fines and penalties of operators to P300,000 but not exceeding P5,000,000 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.
