Two months before ABS-CBN’s franchise expires, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises has yet to hear the 11 pending bills seeking to renew the Kapamilya network’s franchise.
Since 2016, the ABS-CBN franchise renewal bill has been pending in Congress allegedly because of President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated attacks against the media giant.
The House of Representatives especially the Committee on Legislative Franchises is composed mostly of Duterte allies and members of the majority block.
Its chairperson Rep. Franz Alvares of Palawan under National Unity Party is a member of the majority block. His 6 vice-chairpersons are all from the majority also, Pingping Tejada of North Cotabato, Tonypet Albano of Isabela, Jonathan Alvarado of Bulacan, Mike Dy of Isabela, and Bembol Tolentino of Cavite.
Of the 40 members of the committee, 36 are all from the majority and only 4 are from the minority block, Gabby Bordado of CamSur, Janette Garin of Iloilo, Stella Quimbo of Marikina, and Arnie Teves of Negros Oriental.
With this composition, it’s apparent that they are taking leads from the House Leadership controlled by Duterte’s anointed speaker Taguig Congressman Alan Peter Cayetano.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjiquVusNtc
Cayetano is the one who said ABS-CBN renewal bills are not an urgent matter in Congress since they can still operate past its franchise expiration.
“Bakit sinasabi kong hindi ito urgent? Don’t get me wrong, napaka-importante ng franchise ng ABS-CBN, hindi lang sa 11,000 empleyado… Pero hanggang March 2022 ay puwede silang mag-operate,” Cayetano said.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala dahil hindi naman mag-o-off the air ang inyong mga paboritong show. Pero sa ngayon, napakaraming importanteng inaasikaso ang Kongreso,” he added.
Cayetano also said the House is very busy with other important matter thus they cannot schedule hearing for ABS-CBN franchise bills.
ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on May 4, 2020.
Both houses are mulling on adapting a joint concurrent resolution granting NTC the authority to give ABS-CBN a provisional permit to operate.
Meanwhile, here’s the complete list of members of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.
Chair and Vice-Chairs
Rep. Franz Alvarez of the 1st district of Palawan. (Chairman)
Vice-Chairpersons
Jose ”Pingping” Tejada – 3rd district of North Cotabato
Antonio Albano – 1st district of Isabela,
Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado – 1st district of Bulacan,
Faustino Michael Carlos Dy – 5th district of Isabela, and
Abraham Tolentino – 8th district of Cavite
The 36 members of the Committee from the Majority are:
Claudine Diana Bautista of Dumper PTDA party-list (from Davao Occidental),
Ann Hofer – 2nd district of Zamboanga Sibugay
Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu – 2nd district of Maguindanao
Jericho Nograles – PBA party-list (from Davao City),
Fredrick Siao – lone district of Iligan City,
Christian Unabia – 1st district of Misamis Oriental
Divina Grace Yu – 1st district of Zamboanga del Sur.
Gil Acosta – 3rd district of Palawan,
Samantha Louise Vargas Alfonso – 2nd district of Cagayan,
Sol Aragones – 3rd district of Laguna,
Julienne Baronda – lone district of Iloilo City,
Precious Hipolito Castelo – 2nd district of Quezon City,
Joaquin Chipeco, Jr. – lone district of Calamba,
Anthony Peter Crisologo – 1st district of Quezon City,
Faustino Dy – 6th district of Isabela,
Ian Paul Dy – 3rd district of Isabela,
Luis Ferrer IV – 6th district of Cavite,
Alfredo Garbin, Jr. – AKO BICOL party-list,
Sharon Garin – AAMBIS-OWA party-list,
Weslie Gatchalian – 1st district of Valenzuela City,
Eduardo Gullas – 1st district of Cebu,
Edward Vera Perez Maceda – 4th district of Manila,
Eleandro Jesus Madrona – lone district of Romblon,
Dale Malapitan – 1st district of Cavite,
Eric Martinez – 2nd district of Valenzuela,
Eleandro Jesus Madrona – lone district of Romblon,
Raymond Democrito Mendoza – TUCP party-list,
John Marvin Nieto – 3rd district of Manila,
Enrico Pineda – 1-PACMAN party-list,
Strike Revilla – 2nd district of Cavite,
Yedda Marie Romualdez of Tingog Sinirangan party-list,
Alyssa Sheen Tan – 4th district of Isabela,
Rolando Valeriano – 2nd district of Manila,
Alfred Vargas – 5th district, Quezon City,
Micaela Violago – 2nd district of Nueva Ecija,
Eric Go Yap – ACT-CIS party-list
Cyrille Abueg-Zaldivar – 2nd district of Palaawan,
The 4 Committee Members from the Minority are:
Gabriel Bordado, Jr. – 3rd district of Camarines Sur,
Janette Garin – 1st district of Iloilo,
Stella Luz Quimbo – 2nd district of Markina City and
Arnolfo Teves – 3rd district of Negros Oriental.
