The House of Representatives has been pushing to extend the franchise of ABS-CBN.
Cebu City First District Rep. Raul del Mar filed House Joint Resolution No. 28 which aims to extend the franchise of ABS-CBN until the end of the 18th Congress on June 30, 2022.
“We have to do something hot to normalize the situation and allow ABS-CBN to continue operations even after their franchise expires,” del Mar said.
Rep. Carlos Zarate said even without a joint resolution, there is still an existing memorandum that will still allow ABS-CBN to go on air.
“Nakasaad doon sa memorandum na ‘yon habang nakapending pa ang application for renewal of franchise at ‘di pa narereject, the NTC can issue a provisional authority,” Zarate said.
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said the committee on legislative franchises will decide on the measures to be taken on the resolution.
“The House Committee on Rules acted with dispatch in referring House Joint Resolution (HJR) No. 28, which was filed by Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar extending the franchise of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation until the end of 18th Congress on June 30, 2022, to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises,” Romualdez said.
“This may further clog up the calendar of the Committee on Franchises since it also has to consider House Resolution (HR) No. 639 filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman last January 6,” he added.
There are currently 13 bills related to the ABS-CBN franchise renewal. The resolution filed by the solon is also similar to the one filed by Sen. Franklin Drilon in the Senate.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the network’s franchise will expire in May, yet the House has not conducted any hearing on the matter.
Meanwhile, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said the provisional authority by NTC will not work to let ABS-CBN remain on air once the network’s franchise expires, and that congressional authority is needed to do so.
“Unang una, mayroon ng desisyon ang Supreme Court d’yan noong 2003. Ako nga ang sumulat ng desisyon na’ yon eh, na sinasabi na hindi pupwedeng mag-operate and isang television station na wala ng franchise,” he said. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
