NTC 11 vows to clear Davao airwaves of unregistered users

FILE: National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) (Photo by NTC)

DAVAO CITY —The regional office of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC 11) will launch a series of operations against unregistered communication equipment and broadcast stations as it vowed to clear the airwaves of illegal users.

NTC 11 director Nelson Cañete said handheld radios need to be registered with the NTC while the users must be licensed. This also applies to sellers of cellular phones, which must bear the NTC seal. The transmitters of radio stations should also be registered.

“We will be conducting series of operations versus unlicensed communication equipment, dealers of cellular phones in the Davao Region,” Cañete said.

He said this will include the media.

“Sulbaron nato ang traffic sa kahanginan (We will solve air traffic),” Cañete vowed.

During the AFP-PNP press corps at the Royal Mandaya Hotel Wednesday, Cañete voiced concern that their campaign will hit hard on taxi drivers, whose units have radio set. If caught that the radio set is illegal, the taxi driver will be fined P2,000; another P5,000 for using a radio without license; plus P10,000 more for more violations for a total of P17,000.

According to Cañete, the taxi units with radio sets should be the lookout of the operator.

He reminded that drivers or users of handheld radio must undergo a seminar at the NTC to obtain a license.

NTC is targeting 144 taxi operators. So far, only 82 are registered.

Cañete said NTC will not announce its inspection/operation although it has initially coordinated with taxi operators, local government units, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to register all units and get licenses for their users.

He said he has even talked to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio about the licensing and registration since the city government issues handheld radio to employees.

He said NTC does not cover the military as it has its own frequency.
On radio stations, Cañete revealed there are many radio stations especially in the towns of Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur that are operating with unlicensed transmitters.

In Davao City, Cañete said there are two radio stations illegally operating. He, however, refused to name the stations.

Cañete, however noted, that many operators have already visited NTC to register. He said most of these are civic and amateur radio groups.

For 2017, NTC already issued permits to 17,000 operators. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)