The Makabayan bloc led by Representatives Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna, France Castro of ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and Sarah Elago of Kabataan has joined other legislators who are pushing for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The congressional bloc has filed House Bill 6052 on Monday, January 27 seeking to grant the Kapamilya network another fresh 25-year franchise for its television and radio networks.
In their explanatory note, the legislators argued that aside from the jobs that could be lost, ABS-CBN’s shutdown would cost to erosion of press freedom in the country.
“An even bigger ripple of the ABS-CBN shutdown is its cost to freedom of the press, in particular, and to democracy in the country, in general.
“The refusal to grant franchise to ABS-CBN could be construed as an act against the Constitutionally-protected freedoms, especially of the right to a free and independent press,” they said.
ABS-CBN’s franchise is due to expire in March 2020.
Currently, there are already 9 bills filed in Congress seeking to renew the franchise of the Kapamilya network.
In his recent interview, House Speaker Alan Cayetano assured that there is still enough time to discuss ABS-CBN’s franchise and promised a fair hearing.
“We have enough time. Kung ‘yung budget na P4.1 trillion natapos natin ng isang buwan, ‘yun pa kayang franchise na siguro, sobra ‘yung [sa] issues, 2-3 hearings sobrang exhaustive na ‘yun,” said Cayetano.
ABS-CBN’s franchise has been stalled for years since 2016 because of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated attacks against the network accusing its owners of swindling for allegedly not airing his paid campaign ads.
Meanwhile, aside from lawmakers at the House of Representatives, several journalist groups gathered in what they called Black Friday protest.
In 2 consecutive weeks since January 17, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines together with other media organizations gathered in Quezon City to urge Congress to start deliberating and passing the franchise renewal bills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrTqxEoQiMk
They also asked the Congress to remain independent in handling the renewal and stop Duterte’s vindictiveness towards the network.
“Do not decide on the whims of one man even if that man is the president,” said Nonoy Espina of NUJP.
During the protest, NUJP also launched the signature campaign in support of ABS-CBN. As of last week, it has already gathered more than 150,000 signatures and they are expecting to get more as the days pass by because people are now coming out in support of the embattled media company.
