NTC surpasses 2023 collection target

MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has surpassed by 60 percent its income target for 2023 as the agency improved its collection of fees and penalties.

Based on NTC data, the agency exceeded its collection target in 2023, generating P9.43 billion for the government in the first full year of the Marcos administration.

For 2023, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) set a revenue objective of P5.91 billion for the NTC, but the agency managed to exceed this by P3.52 billion.

NTC commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez said the agency instructed stakeholders to strictly comply with their obligation of remitting spectrum users fees. Likewise, the NTC tightened its collection of penalties from radio companies that fail to pay their dues on time.

Further, Lopez committed that the NTC would improve its revenue collection moving forward. The agency wants to contribute in funding the programs and projects of the Marcos administration.

“The NTC’s systematic collection effort is the agency’s modest way of contributing to the public service programs of President Marcos, priorities of which are food security, free and universal primary education, and public health,” Lopez said.

For 2024, the DBCC is requiring the NTC to collect P6.26 billion for the government, the bulk of which will come from spectrum users fees of P3.35 billion.

Afterward, the NTC is told to further increase its collection efforts with the goal of hitting P6.62 billion for both 2025 and 2026.

The NTC also maintains the authority to collect fees from the regulation and supervision of radio frequencies and operations. The agency sources its funds from the registration, certification and licensing of cable, internet and telco players.

The NTC is tasked to regulate broadcast companies, both on free TV and paid cable. The agency is also mandated to oversee the operations of radio stations and telco providers.

Recently, the NTC suspended the broadcast rights of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for 30 days for allegedly violating the terms and conditions of its legislative franchise.

The suspension was issued in compliance with House Resolution 189 calling for an investigation into the reported breaches in SMNI’s franchise.