HOUSE Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. on Thursday, May 7, filed a bill seeking to abolish the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and transfer its functions to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The yet unnumbered bill was filed a couple of days after the NTC ordered the closure of television network ABS-CBN following the expiration of its legislative franchise.
The bill aims to transfer employees’ contracts, records, and documents to the DICT. The commission is an attached agency of the DICT.
“The DICT, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), shall handle all the legal procedures and requirements for the transfer of necessary personnel from the NTC to the DICT and the termination of personnel with redundant positions,” the bill read.
NTC officials and employees who wish to retire or separate from government service will be given a Severance and Mitigation Package (SMP), in addition to any separation and retirement package that will be given to them.
In his privilege speech during a House session on May 6, Abante called for the abolition of the NTC.
“Ang ginawang ito ng NTC ay hindi maaaring palampasin ng Kongreso. The NTC should be abolished and its functions and powers be transferred to the DICT where it can be better exercised and hopefully be more responsive to the needs of our changing times,” he said.
He added the issue is no longer about ABS-CBN’s closure, but because the NTC has disregarded Congress’ appeal.
“I do not care about ABS-CBN; it can be another network. Binastos at binalewala ng NTC ang Kongreso at Senado--papayag ba tayo na mabalewala ng isang ahensya ng pamahalaan na puro kapalpakan ang ginagawa?” he said. (SunStar Philippines)