The House Committee of the Whole approved Wednesday House Bill no. 6732 or the granting of provisional franchise to the broadcast network, ABS-CBN, until October 31, 2020.
The Lower House convened as committee of the whole and rapidly passed the bill in the committee level causing it to be directed to the plenary.
The discussion on House Bill no. 6732, authored by House Speaker Alan Cayetano together with other congressmen, did not last long. They will continue to hear the complaints and opinions on granting the network a new 25-year franchise.
House Speaker Cayetano addressed the criticism received by Congress on the shutdown of the network in his sponsorship speech. He reiterated the noncompliance of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) with its promise on March 10 to grant ABS-CBN provisional authority, and pointed out the interference of the Office of the Solicitor General in the issue.
“So frankly, today is really not the time for ABSCBN. Ngunit dahil naaalala ko yung laging sinasabi ng tatay ko na, (But because I am reminded of what may father always say,) it is always the right time to do what is right, then we will find time today to do what is right.”
House Speaker Cayetano ensured that the hearings will be fair. However, the final decision still falls on the hands of the President. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
