Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato have filed two more bills in the House of Representatives that seek to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, bringing the total number of bills to nine.
Rep. Rodriguez from the second district of Cagayan de Oro filed House Bill 5705, while Rep. Ramirez-Sato filed House Bill 5753, both of which aim to grant the continuation of ABS-CBN’s broadcast and radio operations.
Prior to this, seven more bills have been put forward by eleven congressmen and congresswomen, including House Bill 676 by Rep. Micaelo Violago co-authored by Rep. John Marvin Nieto and Rep. Joey Salceda, House Bill 3064 by Rep. Jericho Nograles, House Bill 3521 by Rep. Baby Arenas, House Bill 3713 by Rep. Joy Tambunting, House Bill 3947 by Rep. Sol Aragones, House Bill 4305 by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto and House Bill 5608 by Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Rep. Johnny Pimentel and Rep. Doy Leachon.
Rep. Alfred Vargas of Quezon City’s fifth district has also voiced concern on the impending franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. “Syempre para sa akin eh marami pa ring trabaho ang nabibigay ng network and sana maayos. And then kasi naman ang concern ko maraming mawawalan ng trabaho and sana kung ano man yung problema, sana ano man ang mangyari eh maayos pa rin in the end,” he said.
This was echoed by Sen. Lito Lapid, who said he still hopes for a positive conclusion to the network’s current dilemma. “Kawawa naman. Huwag naman, marami ang mawawalan ng trabaho. Basta, magdasal na lang tayo. Sana, walang mawawalan ng trabaho.”
Yeng Constantino, a homegrown talent of the network, also uttered a personal plea to President Duterte about the franchise renewal. “I don’t know what’s right and wrong for you, and why it has come to this, but sir, I wish you would consider other artists who are working in this industry, like us, knocking at your heart[‘s door], hoping you won’t cut off our source of income,” she said.
ABS-CBN’s franchise is due to expire on March 2020, but the bills have been pending in Congress.
House Speaker Alan Cayetano has assured the public that Congress will be fair when it conducts public hearings early next year.
Meanwhile, Sen. Tito Sotto expressed optimism that there is sufficient time for both the House of Representatives and the Senate to pass a law that will grant ABS-CBN a new franchise.
Various groups have expressed concern over the possible loss of thousands of jobs if ABS-CBN is denied of its franchise.
Netizens recently trended the #NoToABSCBNShutdown as they showed their full support for the Kapamilya network.
Likewise, a recent independent survey showed ABS-CBN as the most trusted TV news source among Filipinos in the Visayas and Mindanao despite the threats and tirades against the network.
