MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano still considers the franchise issue of media giant ABS-CBN as not urgent even after President Rodrigo Duterte accepted the apology of the network and said that the ball is now in Congress’ side to act on the matter.
During the Lani Scholarship Distribution event in Taguig City, Cayetano said that while he deems the issue to be “important,” the “urgency is not there” as the network will not shut down even after its bid for a franchise renewal is not tackled before the lower chamber takes a break next month.
“It’s important, but the urgency is not there because hindi sila magc-close and we only have six session days,” Cayetano told reporters.
On Wednesday, Duterte said he accepted the apology of ABS-CBN’s President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, saying he would leave the network’s bid for franchise renewal to Congress.
At the House of Representatives, there are 11 bills pending seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN.
While there is a strong call for the lower chamber to tackle these measures, Cayetano said doing so would do “more harm than good” given the House is set to take a break in March.
“Siyempre sa hearing papayagan natin ang ABS-CBN management na mag-opening statement. That will take up, what, 20% of the hearing. Next, ano ba ang logical? Yung mga nag-oobject, assuming na 10 ang mag-oobject o kahit lima lang, baka dalawa o tatlo lang ang marinig namin then we’ll stop the hearing then magb-break kami,” Cayetano said.
“Won’t that be unfair sa ABS-CBN? So the whole break for the next five, six week, ang news yung nag-object lang, ni hindi sila makasagot,” the House Speaker added.
Cayetano also supported Duterte’s acceptance of ABS-CBN’s apology.
“I’m very happy na napatawad na ng ating Pangulo because I’ve always told you, he’s (Duterte) a spiritual person, hindi lang siya religious, and he’s a just person,” Cayetano said.
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.
The House committee on legislative franchises has formally started the proceedings to tackle the issue by asking stakeholders to submit their position papers.
As per the actual hearing, House committee on legislative franchises chairperson and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez said the hearings may be done between May and August.
On Wednesday, Alvarez and Cayetano also sent a letter to the National Telecommunications Commission enjoining the latter to grant ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate effective May 4, 2020.
The provisional authority to operate shall be effective “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”