Senate renews franchises of 4 broadcast firms 

Bills extending the franchises of four broadcasting companies to 25 more years hurdled the third and final reading at the Senate on Monday.

The Senate approved the renewal of franchises of the Manila Broadcasting Company, Bright Star Broadcasting Corp., Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp. and Vanguard Radio Network Company, Inc.

“Broadcasting services are the nervous system of our society as they connect communities and families through a seamless flow of information,” Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Public Services,” said on Monday.

“The Committee deems it fit to integrate a new provision mandating the grantees decent and productive employment opportunities as well as apprenticeship programs or on-the-job trainings for students and young Filipinos,” she added.

Poe highlighted in her sponsorship speech the role played by the Manila Broadcasting Company, which is known by its flagship AM radio station DZRH, in the nation’s history from World War II to the EDSA Revolution and even up to the administrations of former Presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III.

Created on April 1992, Bright Star or Retro 105.9 DCG-FM plays a diverse mix of retro pop, dance, hip-hop, rap, R&B, new wave and soul music.

Vanguard Radio provides news and entertainment through its broadcast stations in Nueva Ecija, Baguio City, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan, and Bohol.

An affiliate of the Catholic Media Network, Notre Dame Broadcasting is based in Kidapawan City and was founded in 1956.

“Congress has the responsibility to ensure that only the most qualified individuals and organizations should be granted this privilege,” Poe said. /ee