Section 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise. —

Subject to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, there is hereby granted to Cotabato Light and Power Company, hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assigns, a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain for commercial purposes and in the public interest, a distribution system for the conveyance of electric power to the end-users in the City of Cotabato and portions of the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Sultan Kudarat, both in the Province of Maguindanao.