MANILA – ABS-CBN Corp. moves closer to going back on air after the House of Representatives approved on second reading a measure that gives the network a provisional franchise until October 31.
The House members approved the measure filed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano last night, hours after the House, convened as the Committee of the Whole, also approved the bill.
Cayetano said he filed the measure as the Congress needs to focus on addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and giving them sufficient time to tackle the network’s “controversial” application for a fresh 25-year franchise.
“Through this measure, we hope to strike a balance between the immediate needs of the people amid this crisis and the duty of Congress to ensure accountability to our present laws,” Cayetano said.
“Providing ABS-CBN with a provisional franchise will give (Congress) time to hear the issues being raised for and against the renewal, and assess, with complete impartiality and fairness, whether or not the network shall be granted a franchise for another twenty-five (25) years,” he added.
“We cannot, in good conscience, sweep the accusations under the rug,” the House Speaker further said.
The bill was co-sponsored by Representatives Neptali Gonzalez, Raneo Abu, Roberto Puno, Dan Fernandez, LRay Villafuerte Jr., Ferdinand Romualdez, and Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado.
During the House panel hearing, Cayetano did not mince words against the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for not following its commitment to the House back in March that it will provide provisional franchise to ABS-CBN.
“The fact is, if only the NTC had said to us from outset that they could not give the network provisional authority, then we would not have relied on their word,” Cayetano said.
“It is a fact that they (NTC) gave their word under oath,” he added. “We must not allow the betrayal of the NTC and the unconstitutional meddling of the Solicitor General (Jose Calida) to go unchallenged.”
The House Speaker also lambasted ABS-CBN and its artists for making it appear that the government was silencing them when the reason for the shutdown was the absence of franchise.
“The fact that ABS-CBN was able to broadcast its content (online) shows that this issue is not about silencing media. Just look at the social networking platforms and see that those freedoms are alive,” Cayetano said.
“Wala po tayong binbulsalsalan dito. We are just simply following the law that every 25 years, you have to present your case why we should give you 25 years,” he added. “Some may say they are in the service of the Filipino people, pero sa gitna ng sakuna, gusto nila sila ang unahin.”
The ABS-CBN has been off the air since the NTC issued a cease and desist order against the network following the expiration of its franchise on May 4./PN