‘Stars have aligned’ for ABS-CBN as House tackles franchise renewal

MANILA, Philippines — It seems that the “stars have aligned” for media giant ABS-CBN, as the House of Representatives announced it will start tackling pending bills for its franchise renewal.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Thursday said the House committee on legislative franchises will start taking up the 11 bills seeking to renew the embattled network’s franchise.

“Given all the signals and the noise coming from all major players from Senate, the Palace, and of course the House, now I think the stars have aligned,” he said in a press conference.

ABS-CBNs franchise is set to expire on May 4.

Salceda said he never expected that the franchise would not be renewed.

“Unang-una, pinapasa ni Duterte yung CBCP (franchise) na mas antagonistic sa kanya kaya never akong nagduda na ito (ABS-CBN franchise) ay hindi ipapasa, kasi yung CBCP na mas mahirap talaga ay pina-lapse into law,” he said.

(First of all, Duterte signed the CBCP franchise, despite it being more antagonistic towards him, so I never doubted that the ABS-CBN franchise will not be renewed because the CBCP franchise was able to renew even though its process is more difficult.)

Meanwhile, Albay  Rep. Edcel Lagman said that this move will “advance the belated timetable” on ABS-CBN franchise renewal hearings, which would “unduly delay” the consideration and approval of the franchise.

“I hope that the hearings on the franchise of ABS-CBN will not be extended past the 2022 presidential and general elections as previously intimated by Cayetano,” Lagman said.

The formal start of deliberations will pave the way for a “cool, calm, and collected discourse” among the House members concerning the ABS-CBN franchise renewal,” Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun said.

“Although this should have been done earlier, at least the legislative franchises committee can now conduct hearings, give all sides the opportunity to air their positions and get detailed work done,” Fortun said.

EDV