Earlier this week, President Rodrigo Duterte put his signature on another 25-year renewal grant for GMA Network Inc. allowing them to operate their TV channels, radio station, and online news sites.
President Rodrigo Duterte renews GMA Network franchise; ABS-CBN’s application, still pending
It can be recalled that the president gave negative comments regarding the rival network, ABS-CBN. It sent some concerns to both its stakeholders and subscribers.
Duterte mentioned blocking bid for its franchise for allegedly refusing to air his pre-paid campaign advertisements during the 2016 elections and some other issues.
No rush
However, the chairperson of the House committee on legislative franchises said “there is no rush” on the said network’s renewal for it is due in 2020.
“ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise is not up for urgent renewal. It is still valid until 2020, so there is no rush in extending it. The committee is prioritizing franchises which are about [to] expire. So based on the committee workload, it is not on the front burner yet,” Palawan 1st District Representative Franz Alvarez said.
The chairman of ABS-CBN, Eugenio Gabby Lopez III, already advised his stockholders that they have plenty of time to prepare for it. After all, he thinks that a lot can happen in a short span of time, especially in politics.
“And speaking of time, a month is an eternity in politics. Alliances can form and collapse. Misunderstandings are patched up during that period of time,” he added.
Duterte once warned the network giant of “karma” to come their way. It will serves as a punishment for the “unfair” reports about him last year.
Alvarez believes that the President should “formally” address it to Congress.
“It would be better if it is conveyed formally to Congress. Whether there is official transmittal or not, the committee will do its job, deliberate, and study the merits of the bill, and make the necessary recommendation to the plenary,” he said.
Still, Duterte now has the power whether to sign or veto the bill. Will his grudge for ABS-CBN trigger him and make him fulfill his threat of blocking the network?
