Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate believes that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) intentionally recalled the frequencies of the ABS-CBN network before even giving the network a chance to get the required numbers in its “People’s Initiative” movement.
The people’s initiative is one of the methods available in the constitution to pass a law without passing through congress.
It is ABS-CBN’s signature campaign in hopes of giving the network a franchise.
In a video conference with ABS-CBN, Zarate revealed that NTC deprived a voice not only to the employees of ABS-CBN but also to the people who support and speak up for the network.
“Talagang gusto nang alisan hindi lang ang ABS-CBN ng boses kung hindi ‘yung mga umaasa pang mamamayan na maibalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN,” he said.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has already recalled the frequencies assigned to the ABS-CBN network on Thursday, September 10. NTC released the decision to the media given that ABS-CBN possesses no legislative franchise.
“The denial of respondent’s franchise renewal application by Congress, coupled with the denial of respondent’s petition by the Supreme Court, lead to no other conclusion except that respondent had already lost the privilege of installing, operating, and maintaining radio broadcasting stations in the country,” NTC said.
“Consequentially, absent a valid legislative franchise, the recall of the frequencies assigned to respondent is warranted,” it added.
Look: NTC order recalling all frequencies/channels assigned to ABS-CBN corporation. pic.twitter.com/eI3Av61ggT
— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) September 10, 2020
ABS-CBN has already reached out to NTC in hopes of hearing the statement from the agency’s officials but no one would answer the network’s calls.
The recalling of the frequencies would mean that if ABS-CBN were to apply for a franchise in 2022, there would be no frequency left for the network because their frequencies were already made available for other broadcasting companies.
Herman Basbaño, chairman of Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) said that many broadcasting companies would express their interest in the frequencies of ABS-CBN that’s why it is possible that the Kapamilya network would lose their frequency.
“Kung mauubos po ‘yung frequency sa dami ng aplikante, ang mangyayari pipila rin kayo sa pag-apply. So tama po ‘yung sinasabi niyo na maaaring wala na kayong frequency after 2 years,” Basbaño said.
“Mayroon kasing inaasahan na malilibreng frequency kapag dumating ang panahon na isa-shutdown po ang lahat ng analog. Pero numero e, may 95 percent Digital TV Set Up Box penetration dapat ang Metro Manila. Mahirap i-determine iyon,” he added.
The Kapamilya network’s frequency amount to about 75 channels along with Channel 2, 630 AM radio stations, and 10 digital terrestrial television broadcasting stations under ABS-CBN Blackbox (TV Plus).
The ABS-CBN Corporation has already made its action to ramp-up the people’s initiative campaign for the ABS-CBN franchise. The PIRMA Kapamilya campaign was launched by the People’s Initiative for Reforms and Movement (PIRMA) on July 24.
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), which led most of the campaigns for ABS-CBN, stated they planned to set a display along Sgt. Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City to allow more people to participate in the signature campaign.
“It’s a gargantuan task pero napakalaki rin naman ng ating tagumpay kung sakali man maisulong itong people’s initiative,” said NUJP Sec.Gen. Raymund Villanueva.
“Maipapakita natin na ang tama ang magwawagi, ang hustisya ang mamamayani,” he added.
The people’s initiative would require the signature of at least 3% of the registered voters in each legislative district and at least 10 percent of total registered voters in the country which is about 7 million signatures to win the national referendum of granting ABS-CBN a franchise.
There were 79 submitted signatures coming from the residents of Antipolo City according to NUJP.
