Drilon to file concurrent resolution extending ABS-CBN’s franchise

MANILA, Philippines— Senate Minority Leader Frankin Drilon said he would file a concurrent resolution in the Senate to allow ABS-CBN to operate until the end of the 18th Congress in 2022.

This concurrent resolution is different from a joint resolution that Drilon also filed extending the network’s franchise until December 31, 2022.

Drilon, in an interview over DZMM on Tuesday, explained that his Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 has the force and effect of the law as it would go through the usual process of legislation which requires the approval of the President.

A concurrent resolution, however, would only require the majority approval by both the Senate and the House expressing their support for the extension of ABS-CBN’s franchise pending discussion in Congress.

The concurrent resolution does not need the President’s approval but it has no force and effect of the law, Drilon further explained.

Hence, his joint resolution had been referred to the Senate committee on public services and was tackled during Monday’s hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise.

“Yan po pwedeng maging resuta sa committee report ng committee ay pwede po yan ang ire-report nila,” drilon said when asked who would initiate the filing of a concurrent resolution in the upper chamber.

(That could be a result of the committee report, they could report that)

“Ngunit iniisip ko, i file ko rin bukas yung cocncurent resolution para po maaksyunan agad ng committee on rules kung payag sila or maisama sa report ng committee on public services . Yan po ang intention kong gawin,” he said.

(But I’m thinking of filing a concurrent resolution tomorrow so the committee on rules can immediately act on it or it could be part of the report of the committee on public services)

ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on May 4 this year. Until now, however, the House has yet to act on the franchise renewal of the network.

Congress will go on break on March 11 and will resume on May 4.

But Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Congress, by a concurrent resolution, may authorize the National Telecommunications Commission to issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN.

“It is therefore respectfully submitted that Congress, by a concurrent resolution, may authorize the National Telecommunications Commission to issue a provisional authority subject to such terms and conditions as the NTC may deem fit to ABS-CBN and other entities similarly situated, authorizing them to continue operating subject to Congress’ eventual disposition of their renewal of the application,” Guevarra said during Monday’s hearing at the Senate.

Edited by MUF