The Star for all Seasons and lawmaker Vilma Santos urged the House committee to hear the bill seeking ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal since the existing license of the giant network will expire on March 30, 2020.
Vilma said, “It’s about time, I think House Committee on franchise should once and for all hear the renewal ng franchise of ABS-CBN. They should hear the other side.”
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also stated that ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal has her full support since the network is one of the top taxpayers in her municipality and provides jobs for thousands of residents in Quezon City.
In addition to that, Senator Grace Poe confirmed that the Senate hearing for the giant networks’ renewal will resume even without any action from the House committee. The Senate’s initiative merely does not intend to disrespect the House of Representatives, Poe reiterated that they’d only like to do their responsibilities in a timely manner.
Poe confirmed: “Kung hindi naman mapasa ‘yan sa mababang kapulungan, at least dito sa Senado, naisiwalat naming ang pag-unawa naming sa isyu na ito. We respect Congress. That’s why I respectfully delayed hearings here in the Senate, hoping they would calendar it. My intention is not to pressure them (House) to do anything that is against their will because that is their right. But on the other hand, we expect our representatives to act in a timely manner.”
Despite Poe’s effort to tackle the bill seeking for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has stated that the network’s franchise bills are not urgent. Moreover, Poe lamented if the case of ABS-CBN will not be resolved, other media outlets will also be worried about their stations.
“Hindi ko sinasabi na ABS-CBN is the primary source of news. It does not mean that freedom of expression is absolutely removed. But it can also send a message that somehow, in certain cases, other media outlets might be worried about their own situation.”
Furthermore, the Philippine Association of Communication Educators defend ABS-CBN, and stated if the giant network was able to comply with the requirements needed for the franchise renewal and if it cannot be granted with the franchise, it only depicts an abuse of power on the government side.
“ABS-CBN is one of the media institutions expected to be critical of government officials or of branches and collusion. Non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s license, despite its compliance to requirements of operating a broadcast company-exemplifies abuse of power on the part of the government.”
