House panel to tackle ABS-CBN franchise renewal on March 10

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:55 p.m.) — The House of Representatives will finally conduct its first hearing on ABS-CBN Corp’s bid to renew its legislative franchise for another 25 years.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano announced Wednesday that the House committee on legislative franchise will take up the 11 pending bills seeking to renew the franchise of the country’s top broadcaster. 

Cayetano said the lower chamber will conduct the hearing next week to make it clear to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that Congress is acting on ABS-CBN’s franchise.

“We’re going to focus on the NTC to make sure that ABS-CBN won’t go off the air yet,” the Taguig-Pateros representative said. 

ABS-CBN was granted a 25-year legislative franchise in 1995. This is due to expire on May 4. 

Last week, the House panel led by Rep. Franz Alvarez (Palawan) urged the NTC to grant ABS-CBN Corp. a provisional authority to continue its operation past the expiry of its legislative franchise. 

The committee said it has begun deliberating the company’s application of franchise by asking parties to submit their position papers on the matter in February. 

Cayetano also said the first hearing on ABS-CBN franchise aims to set ground rules so the proceedings would not end up like a “circus.”

“Ayaw nating maging bull session ang hearing. Ayaw din namin maging sipsipan forum,” he said.

(We do not want the hearing to become a bull session. We also don't want it to become a lackeying forum.)

Last week, the Senate committee on public services conducted a hearing on the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN and the network’s supposed violations. 

A congressional franchise bill needs to be approved by the House of Representatives before it is transmitted to the Senate. The version of the proposed bill approved by both chambers will still need the president’s approval. 

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, has repeatedly criticized the broadcasting network and stated that he is determined to block the renewal of its franchise. 

He also said the Lopez-owned company should just be sold as he vowed to give its owners an episode they will not forget. 

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