In 1986, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) started establishing regional offices which will serve as NTC’s extension in the regions. In an Office Order No. 8-63-88 dated August 22, 1988, Director Lilia A. Borjal-dela Peña, NCR Director was designated in a concurrent capacity as Regional Director of Region IV, situated in Batangas City and Region III in San Fernando Pampanga.
The establishment of NTC Regional Office in Batangas City was approved by then Commissioner Jose Luis A. Alcuaz in accordance with Office Order No. 56-89 dated July 19, 1989. Prior to the construction of the office building, the Commission requested for a temporary office space from the Batangas Provincial Government. The NTC Technical Staff represented by Engrs. Carlos D. Saliuan and Emmanuel J. Diesta coordinated with the Provincial Government on the request which was immediately granted by then Governor Vicente C. Mayo through the assistance of Mr. Augusto Claveria, the Provincial Administrator. The temporary office was located at the second floor of the Provincial Capitol of Batangas. The skeletal force composed of six (6) personnel was transferred to Batangas City to assist the Regional Director in the establishment and immediate operation of the office. Information dissemination activities were conducted through radio broadcast to inform the public of its existence and courtesy calls were made to the local and provincial officials, the INP/PNP Commander and other national government agencies. On the other hand, full support to the Regional Office was assured by the heads of agencies in the Region.
The initial information submitted by the Department of Transportation and Communications to the Department of Budget and Management was for the Regional Office to be established in San Pablo City. However, subsequent events and requests from various representatives from Region IV led to the final decision to construct the NTC Regional Office No. IV in Batangas City which is considered as the seat of Government in Region IV.
In December 1988, bidding procedures for the construction work required for the establishment of the Regional Office were undertaken. An Award of Contract was subsequently issued to the contractor Mr. Romeo Tugano, who submitted the lowest bid. The award of contract was on 21 September 1989 and Notice to Proceed was issued on 25 September 1989.
The provincial Goverment of Batangas during the incumbency of Governor Vicente A. Mayo and with the support of Mr. Augusto M. Claveria, Provincial Administrator provided a parcel of land with an area of one Thousand square meters (1,000 square meters). The Lease Agreement Contract valid for 25 years in the amount of P1,000/year entered into by Commissioner Jose Luis A. Alcuaz and the Provincial Government was signed on November 24, 1989. The ground breaking ceremonies were attended by Engr. Sylvia I. Marcelo, Chief, Telecommunications Planning and Development Department, Engr, Albert Acosta, Ms. Bema Enriquez, Engr. Bernardo S. Jimenez, members of the Bidding Committee, Ms. Estela Dela Rosa and the NTC Region IV staff. Continue….
On January 11, 1990, the Commission was informed that funds for the establishment of the regional office will be released only after Congressional approval for the realignment of funds from the Department of Budget and Management. Said request was denied whereupon, the Commission made justifications in order that funds for this purpose may be released. The following were the reasons submitted to DBM for favorable considerations: first, that delay in submission of request for realignment was due to series of events that overtook the NTC, namely the revamp of NTC personnel; second, the change of Commissioner in mid November of 1989, the December coup d’ etat, and the appointment of a new DOTC Secretary; and third, the construction of the office in Batangas was considered a better site for its radio monitoring system since San Pablo City is surrounded by mountain ranges. The completion of the proposed Regional Office in Batangas City was about 57% already and at that point it will be difficult to stop the construction which would entail additional costs.
With the invaluable support and assistance of then Congressman Hernando B. Perez of the 2nd District of Batangas, Congressman Magdaleno Palacol and Congressman Joaquin M. Chipeco Jr, of Laguna the re-alignment was favorably endorsed by DOTC and was finally approved by DBM. The final completion of the construction of the NTC Region IV Building was on July 06, 1990 and the inauguration was scheduled on the same date.
It was during Director Lilia A. Borjal-dela Peña’s incumbency as the acting Director when the NTC Region IV Building was constructed and inaugurated. The inauguration was attended by Undersecretary and concurrent NTC Commissioner Josefina T. Lichauco in the behalf of Secretary Oscar M. Orbos, Congressman Hernardo B. Perez, DOTC and NTC officials and employees, officials from the Batangas Provincial Goverment, former Commissioner Jose Luis Alcuaz and other guests.
The Regional Office No. IV was formerly located at Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BAEX) Compound but it is now situated along new Diversion Road, by-pass going to the town of Bauan. Its scope of jurisdiction covers eleven (11) provinces, ten (10) cities and two hundred ten (210) municipalities with a population of approximately 7, 699.00. In July 1990, after building construction has been completed, the personnel, based on the plantilla positions of the region were immediately transferred to Batangas. It had a manpower complement of sixteen (16) positions to start its operation which was later on increased to eighteen (18) plantilla positions in 1994.
In August 1991, Mr. Gilbert V. Ramirez was designated as Acting Regional Director and later appointed to Director II position of the NTC Region IV. During his incumbency, Additional Work Project for the Regional Office amounting to P996,442.19 was released. Thus, the construction of the following: employees’ quarters, garage, conference room, drainage system, driveway, pavement, additional fencing and backfilling were undertaken on April 18, 1994. On January 01, 1995, a Memorandum Order was issued for the reshuffling of Regional Directors. Director Ramirez was transferred to the National Capital Region while Director Dela Peña was again re-assigned to NTC Region IV until her mandatory retirement in December 2007.
In January 2007, upon the retirement of Dir. Dela Pena, Engr. Eugenio B. Acosta, Engineer V, was appointed as OIC Director of the Region until the assumption of office of Engr. Joselito C. Leynes as the new Regional Director of NTC R-IV in June 5, 2008.
The NTC Regional Office No. IV is composed of two Divisions namely, the Enforcement and Operations Divisions and the Administrative Division. In its present set up, the Regional Office is headed by Dir. Joselito C. Leynes
The Enforcement and Operations Division, the implementing arm of the Commission is headed by Engr. Eugenio B. Acosta. It enforces and implements through inspection, field investigation, and monitoring surveillance compliance of the telecommunications rules and regulations governing installation and operation of radio and telecommunications services in the region. It also acts on all applications for licenses and permits for operation of radio stations and other telecommunications services.
The present composition of its personnel complement are as follows: Engineer III – Engr. Elpidio O Vasquez, Engineer II positions – Engr Milagros P. Bersamina, Engr. Dennis Y. Gallares, Engr. Ronald . Cabute, and Engr. Aileen R. Dotig. Engineer I positions – Engr. Jasmin A. Rapada, Engr Galeleo M. Mendoza, Engr. Charmaine V. Ganzon, Engr. Alvin O. Ganzon and Engr. Vanessa J. Flaminian. CEO III positions – Ms. Nerrisa A Manalo and Mr. Edhex P Nombrefia. ECET I positions – Mr. Ervin Nestor M Cello and Mr. Rodolfo M Flores and Telegram Carrier position – Ms. Milagrosa M Ayap and three (3) detailed staff from TELOF namely, Mr. Ricardo L. Natividad, Mr. Rico Arnulfo A. Condiman and Mr. Fred A. Aceveda.
The Administrative Division is temporarily headed by the Regional Director at present until the appointment of the new Administrative Officer IV position vacated by Ms. Constancia Alcazar who already retired from the service. It undertakes the support functions of the Regional Office, in-charge of personnel, budgeting/accounting and other financial activities including general services. It attends to the preparation of the annual budget and takes custody and maintains an orderly and systematic filing and safekeeping of records. It receives and collects fees/payments, and is in charge of the payroll of employees in the region. In the present set up, the following are the staff under this Division: Accountant II- Ms. Ma. Carminia A. Puyo, Accounting Clerk II – Ernesto M. Inandan, Clerk II – Ms. Lourdes A. Mercado, Utility Worker – Mr. Claudio F. Fojas, Jr., Fiscal Clerk I – Ms. Shielah G. Macatangay, Clerk III – Ms. Adora A. Mercado, and Ms. Eden R. Faltado.
The positions under the direct supervision of the Regional Director are as follows: Attorney III – Ms. Maria Luisa A. Ditan, Stenographic Reporter II-Mr. Rosauro P. Leonor, Utility Worker – Ms. Analina M. Panes and Driver – Mr. Edgardo C. Tenedero.
In view of the promotion of Ms. Josephine A. Del Rosario as Chief of the Personnel Division in December 2006, Director Dela Peña designated Ms. Maria Luisa A. Ditan as the Acting Administrative Officer IV of the region which took effect on June 21, 2006 until the appointment of Ms. Constancia M. Alcazar as Administrative Officer IV in October 2007. Ms. Alcazar took her early retirement in December 2009. At present, the region has thirty (30) plantilla positions including the nine (9) transferred plantilla positions of TELOF employees, with two (2) vacant positions, the Administrative Officer IV and Engineer I.
Pursuant to R.A. Act 3846, some of the licensing functions of the Commission relative to the issuance of permits, licenses and certificates and other administrative functions have been decentralized thereby authorizing/empowering the Regional Offices to make final actions on said papers within its area of jurisdiction.
The main thrust of NTC Region IV is geared towards bringing its services more accessible to the public thus, field offices were created. The first field office was established in August 1, 1995 and it is located at the LTO District Office in Imus, Cavite. The Land Transportation Office through the invaluable support of Director Lina L. Estrada, Chairperson of RMC Region IV has provided the office space free of charge. Another Field Office was also established in LTO District Office in Taytay, Rizal which was later on transferred to Antipolo City’s Annex Building in Cainta, Rizal. These accomplishments are attributed to the efforts of NTC R-IV Director Lilia A.Borjal-dela Pena. It is also in the same year when a Memorandum of Agreement between and among the members of the Regional Management Council, Region IV was approved by then Secretary Jesus Garcia, Jr. wherein Telecommunications Office (TELOF) will provide manpower resources to NTC. It has provided four (4) detailed technical staff designated to assist in the monitoring and operational functions of the office.
On September 23, 1997, the construction of the NTC Monitoring Extension Building was implemented. It has three (3) rooms, one for radio monitoring and two rooms for the working area of the technical staff. This is part of the Infrastructure Project of the Commission charged against the NTC 1996 Special Budget.
The NTC R-IV Cooperative which is owned and operated by the employees was established in March 1999 with its objective of augmenting the employees’ income. Capitalization was obtained from initial contributions poured in by the staff. Since the start of its operation, the Cooperative has been earning profit. It offers grocery items at affordable and lower prices and grants loans to members at payment schemes.
In the year 2002, Rizal Field Office transferred to its new office at the 2/F NTC Central Office Building with the approval of then Commissioner Eliseo M. Rio.
Some notable accomplishments in 2004 include the transfer of Cavite Field Office from its former location in LTO, Imus, Cavite to CARE 161 Building with free office allocation courtesy of Cavite Governor Ayong S. Maliksi. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) through NOSCA No. 04738 dated 26 October 2004 approved the request of Director Dela Peña for the formal transfer of the nine (9) plantilla positions of TELOF employees to NTC Region IV.
On May 23, 2006, during her incumbency as Regional Director of NTC Region IV, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred Director Lilia A Borjal-Dela Peña thru the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) with the promotion to CESO Rank IV, the first from among the Regional Directors of the Commission.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the Use of Income Budget Allocation for NTC Region IV Infrastructure Project under Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) No. A-06-09825 dated 27 December 2006. The said budget is intended to fund the construction of the second floor of NTC Regional Office building to address the effect of the ongoing overpass construction in front of the Regional Office and to augment additional office space requirements for Administrative and Finance Division, the proposed conference room, monitoring room, library. The contract was awarded to Yarikata Construction as the bidder with the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid. The project was completed in December 2007 and to date, these new office spaces now provide a conducive and comfortable working environment for the NTC R-IV Regional staff.
The Region is a consistent top performer. It maintains a constant increase in annual revenue collections compared to its target and prior years’ actual collections. For the first semester CY 2007, the office was able to generate an income totaling to P35,672,887.32 with a significant increase of P26,734,851.00 or a whooping 299.11% compared to that of CY 2006 of the same period and 860.89% as against its target. The year 2008 seemed to be a productive one for NTC R-IV. Notwithstanding the economic crisis that took place, a total revenue collection of Php 104,199,954.34 was generated exceeding the target income by 22.10% and is higher by Php 20,841,062.65 or 25.00% than collection realized in 2007. The economic storm that swept the world in 2008 was extended in 2009 creating crisis of global proportions. Yet despite of this, NTC R-IV delivered high score profitability be generating a total collection of Php 136,346,712.80 for the calendar year 2009 reaffirming the Region’s marked leadership. As compared from 2008 collection, the region was able to recognize a hefty increase of 30.85% or Php 32,146,758.50.
These outstanding accomplishments and solid performance of the Region were attained in partnership with stakeholders and loyal clients and through the sustained efforts and initiatives of its technical and administrative Staff under the efficient stewardship of able Regional Directors: Dir. Gilbert V. Ramirez (1991-1995), Dir. Lilia A. Borjal –Dela Pena (1995-2007) and Dir. Joselito C. Leynes (2008-present).
NTC Region IV is presently performing its thrust and programs to meet the growing demands for telecommunications services in its territorial jurisdiction particularly in the CALABARZON and MIMAROPA areas.
In consonance with the Mission and Vision of the Commission, NTC R-IV pledges to continue delivering on its goals with regards to physical and financial performances as well as in adherence to the highest and best standards of accountability, integrity, fairness and transparency.