ABS-CBN’s franchise is still up in the air despite its nearing expiry on May 4, 2020.
While the country is still under the COVID-19 crisis, concerns for the fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise still lingers, especially for the anxious employees.
ABS-CBN has been instrumental in information dissemination in these trying times. Their relief operations have also helped many communities that were not reached by government relief operations.
According to reports, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate is said to be working to expedite the franchise renewal hearing of the media giant.
“The franchise of ABS-CBN will expire on May 4, and I submit that it is prudent that a hearing of the legislative franchise committee be called on the same day to expedite its resolution, especially now during the time of the CoViD pandemic,” said Zarate.
On February 27, 2020, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises has already sent a letter to the NTC (National Telecommunication Commission) asking the commission to grant a provisional authority to operate to ABS-CBN effective on May 4, 2020, “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano even said that he’s willing to be jailed for ABS-CBN’s provisional permit.
“Kung may makukulong sa ABS-CBN dahil nagbobroadcast sila habang naghihearing kami, sasamahan ko sila sa kulungan. Ikulong niyo na rin ako dahil ako nakapirma sa sulat e,” Cayetano said.
Meanwhile, the Senate, for their part, has passed a resolution on March 4 expressing the “sense of the Senate” that ABS-CBN Corporation and its subsidiaries should continue with its operations pending the deliberation of their franchise renewal.
In his latest interview, House Speaker Cayetano reiterated that ABS-CBN will continue operating beyond May 4 because of the provisional permit that they’ve asked NTC to issue for ABS-CBN.
“Gusto namin ipaabot sa lahat ng viewers ng ABS-CBN, DZMM, sa lahat po ng mga empleyado, sa mga stars, directors, wala pong move na isara ang ABS-CBN.”
