Several ABS-CBN employees took to social media to share their fear of losing their jobs if ABS-CBN continues to be off the air.
On Twitter, a number of ABS-CBN employees aired their sentiments on the company’s possible retrenchment in August.
Addressing ABS-CBN employees, CLK said, "Our inspiration is not because we’re fighting for the company. Our inspiration is not because we’re trying to protect the business. Our inspiration is because we know that we are fighting for you, for your families, for your jobs."
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) May 22, 2020
Retrenchment is real. I know most of my followers here are fans of Kapamilya stars & shows. Guys, we badly need your prayers & support. If the SC denies us the TRO, we will lose our jobs. Hope you can appeal to your congressman thru socmed to support press freedom & ABS-CBN.
— Theodore Boborol (@TheodoreBoborol) May 22, 2020
My heart bleeds. Praying for all our employees. Praying for a miracle. https://t.co/GfEBiXUrmr
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) May 19, 2020
Good afternoon sa lahat! Katatapos lang ng Senate hearing on ABS franchise. Nalulungkot ako dahil habang tumatagal na wala kami sa free tv at radyo, marami sa aking katrabaho ang maaring mawalan ng kabuhayan. Pero patuloy akong umaasa! #KapamilyaForever#LabanKapamilya pic.twitter.com/q8BwJG2Ojv
— Direk Lauren (@direklauren) May 19, 2020
During the Senate hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise, Tuesday, May 19, ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak said while they promised to keep their employees and all their salaries and benefits for their months, they cannot sustain it for long and may lead to the inevitable retrenchment by August if the company cannot back on air immediately.
“Your honor, when we’re taken off the air on May 5th, we made our commitment to our employees given the difficult economic situation following COVID-19, we made a commitment to them that we would not take away any jobs for three months,” Katigbak said.
But unfortunately the management “cannot make that commitment open-ended” due to financial constraints.
“We continue to lose a substantial amount of money every month your honor, and I’m afraid that if we can’t get back on air soon, by August we may already have to consider beginning a retrenchment process your honor,” he said.
Since its shutdown on May 5, the company is said to be losing 30-35 million pesos in revenue daily.
Currently, Congress is set to start its hearing for the 25-year franchise on Monday, May 26 at the Committee on Legislative Franchises.
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House will have a continuous hearing despite their session break which will start on June 5.
