Licensing information for the Philippines - DU

Prepared by: OH2MCN - Veke & DU3LIM - Manny & KE6UP - Alan & K7DTS/DU1 - John & DU1/DL5ZAH – Klaus & DU7/OE3GEA – Gerhard & 9M6DXX - Steve
Status: June 1997, Jan '98, Jan '99 (totally new), Apr '99, Mar '05, ‘08

Intro: About a year and a half ago I was looking for information on the Philippines and I have since gotten my license and am on the air here so I will pass along what I know of the processes.

PTT (from ITU database): 
There are many NTC offices around the Philippines, they are on the Internet at
http://www.ntc.gov.ph/ 
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
Agham Road, East Triangle - Diliman
QUEZON CITY 1100
Philippines

Tf +63 2 924 4042 /
3787 / 4024 / 4072 / 7128
Fax +63 2 924 4048 /
 4072
Email ntc at ntc.gov.ph 
URL www.ntc.gov.ph 

Philippine Amateur Radio Association [PARA]
Address: P.O. Box 4083, Manila Central
Location: Semicon Centre Bldg.
Marcos Highway, Santolan, Pasig City

Tel: +63 (2) 681-4965 to 70 <HQ>
+63 (33) 3210151 <DU6BG>, +63 (2) 932-4734 <DU1ERV>
Fax: +63 (2) 681-6229 <HQ>
E-mail:
para at semicon.net  <HQ> www.para.org.ph

Paperwork needed:
- You need the 3 forms I have enclosed filled out (appl forms). You also need 4 copies each of:
- Original Amateur Radio license
- Passport
- Visa
- ID pictures; 2 each 1X1, 2 each 2X2
- Model and S/N (serial number) of transceiver. (They may want to see the radio)
- Original sales receipt for the radio. If you do not have one, get a receipt that looks official. NTC wants to make sure you are not operating an illegally smuggled radio. Your operating permit will list the S/N of the radio you are allowed to operate and the emission you are allowed to use.
- A certificate of good moral character. You can get this ONLY from the U.S. Embassy in Manila in the American Services Section. The document I got said a search had been made of all the computer data at the Embassy and no negative reports could be found. I think I paid $25.00 for this. No other document will be accepted.
The best way to get a license:
First of all you will need to apply in person at the regional office in the region you intend to operate from. It may be possible to get one otherwise but I was told no by the Batangas Regional Director. I do not have a list of addresses but the Philippine Amateur Radio Association in Manila whose address is the same at the DU QSL bureau and whose # is 681-4965 to 70 Ex 516 or 518 and FAX # is 681-6229 could help you out with that. If you write them they will need money for return postage.
Reciprocal applies at least to K, VE, JA, DL (more details will be added when available)
Price:
The fee for the license is under $10.00 depending on the exchange rate. It is good for a year and is renewable.
Special calls:
How long before you can operate?
It took 2 weeks to get my license.
License restrictions:
Customs:
You need license to import your rigs into the country
Useful local contacts:
Local tips: N6WXM, KE6PU, MANNY LAO / DU3LIM <siubon at mnl.sequel.net>
Places to operate from:
Notes:

73's de K7DTS/DU1 - John


Recent additional information from KE6UP (04 Jun 1997):

A better route than contacting local DOTC/PTT is to contact the Philippine Amateur Radio Assoc (PARA) in Manila which will serve as your go-between for the main Philippine DOT office. See the website:
www.lafn.org/community/magellan/para_inc.htm (this has been down lately) try instead
http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~balmaced/INDEX.HTM
The PARA office can provide the forms and info needed. U.S. Hams be advised, the Philippine DOT (Dept of Telecomm) requires a letter from the U.S. Embassy stating a background check of you has been made. This will cost $30.00 U.S.D. paid to the embassy. I don't know if this required from all foreigners but would suspect it is. PARA will give you a form which states you have permission to pocesse transmitting equipment along with your permit, good for 1 year and renewable. THIS PERMIT IS NOT A CUSTOMS ENTRY PERMIT. I found this out the hard way when attempting to bring my Xcvr in country. BE SURE to tell the customs inspector you will be taking the Xcvr out with you when you leave, otherwise they will want to impound it for your stay or charge you a big import fee. When you leave BE SURE the customs people give you a form to re-enter your Xcvr for next time. It will be much easier. The only way I got my Xcvr in the first time without it being impounded was to show them the CQ magazine with the CQWWDX rules and stating that is why I need the Xcvr with me during my trip. (I was there 6 months). I will be back there for the 97 CQWWDX SSB in Oct. If anyone has better info, plse let me know.

Alan Zack <
k6acz at earthlink.net> new Email addr


Recent addition from DU1/DL5ZAH (Apr 1999):

From: Klaus Illhardt < illhardt at i-next.net >

Hi, very interesting, the varieties in procedures here in the Philippines for the same think are great. If you visit my home page, you will find how to get a license in DU1, Manila.
http://www.qsl.net/dl5zah/
To get a local call legally you must take the EXAM for amateur radio. The NTC could grant special privileges to foreign amateur license holders, to take direct a higher class and to jump the normally required entrance classes. For Manila the exams are held every wednesday (they are in mass production), after you been through the exams it takes up to four month to get your call. This privilege is granted only to citizen of countries where the Filipinos are granted the same privilege, you have to proof this.
Letter of good moral...... My experience, even a letter of the amateur radio organization is sufficient for this purpose.
Equipment....... To import Amateur Radio Equipment, beside the local License you need to have a "Permit to Purchase", the custom is a complete independent matter. ==== No proper Permit might result in the confiscation of your equipment. ==== Furthermore, to transport your equipment from point A to point B you need a special permit, too. They normally issue this very fast.

Klaus

DU1/DL5ZAH

mailto:dl5zah at qsl.net            mailto:dl5zah at amsat.org


Addition From: "Gerhard Elsigan" <gerhard.elsigan at liwest.at> 
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005

I just returned from a 2 week holiday trip to Cebu Island. Altogether very positive experience regarding licensing:

* flying directly into Cebu from abroad meant we had to deal with Cebu customs, and given our small amount of radio gear (DX70 plus outbacker, some wires, key) no one cared. 
* as regional offices are in charge of licensing, I went directly to the Cebu region authority. Their name is now NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), and their regional offices can be found on the internet. Application was done as I got there (they did not respond to emails I sent weeks prior to the trip, neither by the way did PARA). A (translated) copy of my file from the OE criminal records was ok as certificate of good conduct. My /DU7 license and permit to temporarily possess radio equipment in DU were issued within one day, and given the short period of stay, the charge was nil.

Tnx again for maintaining your very helpful site, which I use often for preparing trips!!!

73, Gerhard OE3GEA


DX Holiday DU - Philippine Islands

Travel info: DESTINATION THE PHILIPPINES and subWWWay to The Philippines


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