The signature drive for ABS-CBN’s franchise has started.
On Friday, July 24, PIRMA or People’s Initiative for Reforms and Movement for Action launched PIRMA Kapamilya which aims at bringing back ABS-CBN on air.
According to their website, Pirma.ph is a group of volunteer citizens who seeks to legislate the ABS-CBN franchise through people’s initiative.
“We are an independent and organic collective of concerned Filipinos moving to advance reforms via people’s initiative and referendum. With the citizens’ support, we aim to grant ABS-CBN a people’s franchise via a democratic experiment of a people’s initiative called PIRMA KAPAMILYA.”
The group aimed at gathering 7 million signatures nationwide to give ABS-CBN a chance to go back on air and resume its broadcast operations.
According to the law, for people’s initiative to be successful, it needs at least 3% signatures of all registered voters from each legislative district of the country and at least 10% of the total registered voting population.
The idea of people’s initiative to save ABS-CBN’s franchise was first shared by UST Law professor Enrique Dela Cruz.
After the July 10 denial of the ABS-CBN franchise by the 70 congressmen, Dela Cruz immediately brought up people’s initiative as another recourse for ABS-CBN to get a franchise.
Meanwhile, below are the provisions on the proposed law under people’s initiative by PIRMA.
FREQUENCY AND OPERATIONS: The proposed law gives them back their frequency, allows them to operate, bring back the jobs, and continue to deliver public service.
PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY: It also emphasizes ABS-CBN’s responsibility to the public in reaching the population to deliver important public issues; in providing sound and balanced programming, and functions in the delivery of public information, news, and education
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: It gives ABS-CBN a chance to do better in its shortcomings, particularly with respect to its workers. The proposed law includes a provision of respect for workers’ rights.
ACCOUNTABILITY: It strengthens measures in holding the grantee accountable for any possible non-compliance with laws and regulations, particularly its obligations to its workers and its reportorial requirements to Congress.
DUE PROCESS: The proposed law ensures that any action against ABS-CBN in relation to this franchise satisfies the requirements on due process, remains fair, and does not unduly threaten the rights and livelihood of its stakeholders, as well as the interest of the public.
