City gov't, taxi operators urged to get radio permits

THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)-Davao urged the City Government of Davao and taxi operators to have their handset radios licensed.

In a press conference, NTC-Davao Regional Director Nelson Cañete said only the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is exempted from the mandate of handset licensing as it has its own military radio frequency that is separated from the NTC's frequency provision.

"Local and National Government agencies, Philippine National Police (PNP), barangay offices, private establishments, and commercial purposes are all required to ask permits from NTC for using handset equipment," Cañete said.

NTC-Davao, he added, also encouraged taxi operators to get licenses for every unit of their handset radios.

Nearly 20 percent only of the total taxi units that have handset radios in the region are licensed.

Cañete said NTC, with Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Davao, has been conducting several information drive and dialogues with taxi operators in the region on the matter.

"I told the operators to registers their handsets to lessen our apprehensions against them," he said.

He said that usage demand for handset radios is increasing after the public has realized that cellular phones are in no use during calamities like the typhoon Yolanda that hit the country.

As of first week of October, NTC-Davao already processed 12,000 license applications for various communications equipment, exceeding its target of 10,000 this year.

Cañete said the great number of license applications signify the success of the Commission's intensified campaign this year on licenses and permits.

"We make sure that our processing is fast compared to the previous years and assure that our employees are on track of their duties," he said.