House may tackle ABS-CBN franchise between May and August – Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises chairman and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez on Monday said the franchise renewal of media giant ABS-CBN may be tackled between May and August.

“The committee is now open to accept all the position papers from all the stakeholders and also ComSec (committee secretary), please communicate with all those who wish to submit position papers na ready na po ang committee na tanggapin po yung mga position paper ng lahat—anti and for ng renewal ng ABS-CBN para po sa mga darating na panahon, bago tayo magkaroon ng formal hearing, mapag-aralan na po natin lahat ng position,” Alvarez said during the House committee’s meeting in Quezon City.

“Once ma-receive natin lahat ng position paper, mapag-aralan, maybe May or pinakamatagal siguro August… We are sure marami po talagang magsu-submit ng position paper and it will take time,” he added.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier also said that the issue may be tackled in May or right after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Meantime, the Senate started its own hearing on the matter Monday morning.

READ: Senate panel opens hearing on ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Cayetano said that he would rather tackle the measures seeking the network’s franchise renewal continuously than have it cut by the lower chamber’s scheduled breaks.

The lower chamber is scheduled to take a break on March 15.

Currently, there are 11 bills pending before the House of Representatives seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise, which expires on March 30, 2020.

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 or not to extend the franchise to public utilities, such as the media.

GSG