PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the franchise of the University of the Philippines to operate radio and TV broadcast stations for educational purposes.

The President on Tuesday signed Republic Act 11540 which grants a 25-year franchise to the university.

Under its franchise, UP broadcasting network shall allot at least 15 percent of its daily air time to “child-friendly shows” in line with the Children’s Television Act.

RA 11540 allows UP System “to construct, establish, maintain, and operate for educational and other related purposes radio and television broadcasting stations within the University of the Philippines and in other areas within the scope of its operations.”

It bars the university from selling, leasing, transferring, granting the usufruct, and assigning their franchise or their acquired rights and privileges to any person, firm, company, corporation, or other commercial or legal entity.

UP has to submit an annual report on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and its operations to Congress, through the House Committee on Legislative Franchises and The Senate Committee on Public Services.

The President also approved the franchises of Davao City, Instant Data Inc., Highland Broadcasting Network Corp., and Palawan Broadcasting Corporation.