MANILA, Philippines – Albay Representative Joey Salceda filed a bill on Tuesday, January 7, seeking the grant of a new franchise for ABS-CBN Corporation, whose previous franchise expired in 2020 after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises denied its renewal.
The mentioned bill is House Bill No. 11252, titled "An Act Granting the ABS-CBN Corporation (Formerly ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation) a Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate, and Maintain Television and Radio Broadcasting Stations in the Philippines, and for Other Purposes."
The bill highlights that during the house deliberations, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) affirmed that ABS-CBN had not violated any ownership restrictions and had no tax liabilities.
The franchise's non-renewal in 2020 also coincided with the loss of jobs for nearly 11,000 employees, which happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another point is that the station's extensive reach, particularly through its regional networks, serves as a vital source of news and updates, especially during calamities, aiding in the disaster risk strategies of local governments.
"Given the merits of renewing the franchise, as well as the clarifications made by government agencies over certain allegations against the grantee, this representation urges Congress to reconsider the non-renewal of the franchise by the previous Congress," he said.
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| Photo courtesy: Rep. Joey Salceda |
Meanwhile, in past interviews with ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak, he mentioned that the giant broadcast network is not currently pursuing a new franchise but is instead focusing on becoming a content provider.
Several Kapamilya Network shows are now airing on various free TV channels such as A2Z Channel 11, TV5, ALLTV, and GMA Network. They can also be seen in several social media platforms like Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube, Facebook, and other streaming apps. They are also visible on cable TV.
At present, the Channel 2 frequency previously assigned to ABS-CBN is now being used by ALLTV.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
