National Telecommunications Office
The first radio regulatory office known as the “Radio
Construction and Maintenance Section” under the
telegraphic division of the Bureau of Post, was tasked
with the enforcement of radio laws and regulations.
The Philippine Legislature enacted R.A. 3846, otherwise
known as Radio Control Law of the Philippines,
authorizing the Secretary of Commerce and Communications
to Created Radio Regulation Section, a division which
carries out provisions and regulations as prescribed.
By virtue of Department Order No. 51, the name Radio
Control Division was changed to Radio Control Office
which was later changed to Telecommunications Control
Bureau. The Board of communications, created under the
Integrated Reorganization Law of 1972, has the
adjucatory powers on matters involving telecommunication
services.
By virtue of E.O No. 546 dated July 23, 1979,
Telecommunications Control Bureau and the Board of
Communications were abolished and was integrated into a
single entity known as the National Telecommunications
Commission.
A
listed hereunder are the of Accredited Radio
Groups/Organizations of the city as follows :
1. REACT XII
2. HAM XII
3. Notre Dame of Cotabato Amateur Club
4. Cotabato City Institute Student Amateur Radio Club Inc.
5. CREATE
6. RECON
Postal Services
The Cotabato City Post Office is housed in the Bureau of
Post’s Regional Office Bldg. which is located at Bonifacio
Street, Cotabato City. Since its establishment in 1988, it
has been utilized as the main distribution center for the
city’s postal services.
The Bureau of Post has opened additional sub-office in
different key areas of the city for the convenience of the
public. These are found at the Notre Dame University, ORC
Compound Cotabato City. A sub-office is also located at
SPDA at Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipality.
With this present set-up, the Bureau of Post has 618
postal personnel to attend to the postal needs of the
city.
Telegraphic Services
Aside from the government telecommunication
network, there also exist two (2) privately owned
telecommunication companies which offers telegraphic
services to the City of Cotabato and its neighboring
towns. These are the Philippine Telegraph and Telephone
Company (PT&T) and the Radio Communications of the
Philippines Incorporated (RCPI). Below are the services
extended by these companies.
Telephone System
The Cotabato Telephone System was established before World
War II and was restored after liberation. In 1969 the
system was changed from manual to an automatic telephone
system. The office was now called the Provincial Public
Service Office. On May 25, 1990, the Philippine Long
Distance Company (PLDT) bought the Cotabato Telephone
System. With the PLDT, the operation and services has
improved. The digital exchange cut into service on October
5, 1991, 4,177 push button telephone stations and at
growth rate of 140 stations per month. It is equipped with
90 bothways digital trunks using CCITT Signalling No 7,
which links Cotabato City to Luzon, Visayas, other places
in Mindanao and the whole world.
The central office has 5,502 telephone lines with around
3,191 subsribers. It has 6,000 main cable pair with an
approximate length of 4,810 meters underground cable (UG).
It also cater services like Direct Distance Dialing (DDD)
and International Direct Distance (IDD). It can receive an
average of 1,390 messages per day.
This modern and state of the art telephone system is
looked with pride by the Cotabato City Residents
considering the we are one among the first to have this
kind of telephone system.
Aside from PLDT, there exist s three (3) Cellular
Companies namely : Mobiline, Smart and Globe. The two (2)
latter companies offer Text Messaging Services (GSM) to
its subscribers. The Globe Company also has Clobelines
which offers Landline services.
Print / Broadcast / Media / TV
There are 5 AM radio stations, 6 FM Radio Stations and (3)
television Stations officially registered with the
National Telecommunications Commission which operates in
Cotabato City. These radio stations can be heard all over
Maguindanao, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat provinces. Likewise,
it was also observed that the residents from the coastal
municipalities of Zamboanga del sur can tune in over these
radio stations.
On the other hand, we have CTV - 12, a television network
operating in Cotabato City which can be received by
neighboring provinces / towns and municipalities. In 1991,
Cotabato Cable Television Network Corporation (CCTV Corp.)
started its operation. Fifty (50) TV Stations ca be
viewed. To date, they have more than 2,000 subscribers.
The Maguindanao Sky Cable which started its operation in
1994 has now 750 subscribers. The PTV 4, a government
television company and the ABS-CBN has a relay station in
the city.
There
are local news papers circulating in Cotabato City. Among
these are the Mindanao Cross, owned and managed by the
Oblates Congregation, which comes out every Wednesday and
Saturday; The Mindanao Kris, comes every Friday only.
Other local newspapers include Mindanao Trend, Kutawato
Express, Headliner, Mindanao News Bulletin. About 8,000
papers are circulating throughout Central Mindanao and
some parts of Region XII.
Aside from these local newspapers, there are also national
dailies circulating. Among the most readable are the :
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Malaya, and
Philippine Daily Star.
Development Problems and Issues
1. Absence of technical capability to show live programs;
2. Billing problems;
3. Peso devaluation;
4. Cloning
5. Tapping
Development Goals and Objectives
Goal :
Provision of adequate and reliable communication
facilities in support to the full development of the city.
Objectives :
-
To
establish and expand area of coverage of telephone
system;
-
To
provide telephone lines in the urban poor subdivision
projects;
-
To
establish postal satellite centers;
-
To
forge a joint venture project with radio and
television companies for the establishment of
communication facilities
Development Policies and Strategies
Encourage entry of investors in telecommunication
facilities to support industrialization and tourism
activities.
Development Requirement Needs / Targets
1. Expansion Program of PLDT
2. Expansion program of Globeline, Smart and Mobiline