Nearly 100 solons want House panel to now tackle ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal

MANILA, Philippines — So far, 91 members of the House of Representatives – including eight Deputy Speakers – have signed the resolution urging the committee on legislative franchises to tackle bills concerning the legislative franchise renewal of media network giant ABS-CBN.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the author of House Resolution (HR) No. 639, disclosed this Monday, as he revealed that: “I am of the understanding that another Deputy Speaker will sign today.”

Further, the lawmaker said 21 committee chairs likewise affixed their signatures in the resolution.

Of the 91 lawmakers who signed the resolution, 65 are members of the so-called supermajority in the House, Lagman added.

HR 639 argues that the renewal of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise is “inextricably linked to the exercise of press freedom.”

Republic Act No. 3846 requires television and radio broadcasting companies to secure a franchise from the government before they are allowed to operate. It is Congress that will decide whether to extend the franchise to public utilities, such as the media.

Eleven bills have been filed in the House seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, which is one of the biggest media outlets in the country.

However, it has yet to be put on calendar by the House committee on legislative franchises.

In a press briefing, Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano, vice-chairperson of the committee on legislative franchises, assured that the committee has been “working hard to facilitate all the franchise renewals and applications that [have] been lodged in our committee.”

Edited by KGA