Section 1Sec./Art. 1

Section 1 of Republic Act No. 8196 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise. - Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations on public telecommunications, the franchise granted to Ermita Electronics, Incorporated, presently known as G.

Telecoms, Inc., hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assignees under Republic Act No. 8196, to construct, establish, install, maintain, and operate for commercial purposes and in the public interest, in the Philippines and between the Philippines and other countries and territories, wire and/or wireless telecommunications systems including international and local exchange carrier (LEC), international and domestic gateway facility, international and domestic submarine cable landing stations, mobile cellular, copper switches, and their value-added services such as the transmission of voice, data, facsimile, control signs, audio and video, information services, and all other telecommunications systems technologies as are at present available or will be made available through technological advances or innovations in the future; and/or construct, acquire, lease and operate, or manage transmitting and receiving stations, lines, cables, or systems as are convenient or essential to efficiently carry out the purpose of this franchise is hereby extended for another twenty-five (25) years from the effectivity of this Act."