Solon: ‘No move’ to close down ABS-CBN? Then grant franchise extension soonest
MANILA, Philippines — Three days before the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN expires, a lawmaker has renewed his call for the granting of the network’s franchise extension.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman made the call after House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated that there is “no move” to have the media giant closed down despite its bid for franchise renewal still pending before the lower chamber.
ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on May 4, the same day that the House of Representatives and the Senate resume session following the Lenten break.
“Since Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his assurance the other day that ‘there’s no move to close down ABS-CBN’, then why not grant the extension of the network’s franchise soonest?” Lagman said in a statement on Friday.
Lagman, who has been vocal with his support for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, said that the approval of the media giant’s franchise will uphold press freedom.
“Considering that there is no credible opposition to the extension of the franchise, then it is imperative that the beleaguered ABS-CBN be rescued from the quagmire of legal limbo by enacting without further delay such extension,” Lagman said.
“The positive action initially by the House, where private bills like legislative franchises emanate, will verily uphold press freedom and free expression,” the lawmaker added.
In a recent interview with DZMM, Cayetano said he would meet with some senators to discuss ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The 11 bills seeking the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise remain pending before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises — the earliest of which, at least in the 18th Congress, was filed in July 2019.
So far, the committee has held only one meeting to discuss the matter. But no one from ABS-CBN or from the opposition was invited to this meeting.
Instead, the lawmakers decided to first draft the ground rules for the formal deliberations of the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN, which Cayetano earlier deemed to be necessary so that the hearings would not turn into a “circus.”
During the meeting, the NTC said it would “likely” give ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate.
Earlier, Cayetano and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, the franchise committee chair, sent a letter to the NTC enjoining the commission to grant a 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.”
