Joint reso on ABS-CBN franchise will create more ‘issues, problems’ — Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano sees the joint resolutions filed to extend the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN while Congress hears its bid for renewal as something that would create more “issues and problems.”

In an interview with reporters in Taguig City, Cayetano said the letter sent by the lower chamber to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is the most “straightforward” move to allow ABS-CBN to operate while its bid for franchise renewal is still pending in Congress.

ABS-CBN’s current franchise will lapse on May 4 this year.

“It’s not that we don’t want, we don’t need the joint resolution at kapag sinalang mo ang joint resolution, argument na naman ‘yan. Anong validity niyan?” Cayetano said.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday filed House Joint Resolution No. 29 which seeks to extend ABS-CBN franchise until May 4, 2021.

Aside from this joint resolution, Cebu Rep. Raul Del Mar also filed House Joint Resolution No. 28 which seeks to extend ABS-CBN’s franchise until the end of 18th Congress in June 2022.

“It’s good ideas, don’t get me wrong kay Rep. Del Mar and kay Rep. Rufus, but it will create more issues and more problems eh,” Cayetano said.

“So ngayon very simple ang aming directive sa NTC eh, naghi-hearing pa kami, ‘wag niyong isara ‘di ba? Ganoon lang kasimple,” he added.

In the said letter, the lower chamber enjoined the NTC to grant provisional authority to operate to ABS-CBN effective on May 4, 2020, “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”

“Ang tingin namin, ang pinakasimple, ang pinaka-straightforward, pinaka-unquestionable is ‘yung aming sulat enjoining the NTC to do it and I’ve called the chairman ng NTC, I’ve read the statement ng DOJ, lahat is in alignment eh,” Cayetano said.

“So kung may gustong magkuwestiyon, kuwestiyunin niyo na lang ‘yung aksyon namin sa korte pero kung pwede naming makuha sa pakiusapan, pabayaan niyo muna kami mag-hearing bago niyo kuwestiyunin ‘yung aming ano sa korte,” the House Speaker added.

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.

But 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.