By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
REP. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District has called on the House Committee on Legislative Franchise to start deliberations on a bill he filed that seeks to renew the franchise of television giant ABS-CBN.
Rodriguez filed House Bill 5705 that seeks to give the television network a fresh 25-year franchise.
He asked the committee’s chairman. Rep. Franz Alvarez, to start discussions on the bill.
ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30, 2020, but President Duterte has repeatedly threatened that the government would no longer renew the media company’s franchise.
“Congress should always uphold the constitutional mandate under Section 4, Article 3 to ensure the freedom of the press,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said the committee should conduct the hearings upon the resumption of House sessions on Jan. 20.
“Time is of the essence because the ABS-CBN franchise will expire on March 30. Congress will adjourn on March 11. There will only be 24 session days from Jan. 20 to March 11,” he said.
The House committee, he said, should make a decision on the fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“It is not proper,” he said, for congressmen not to act on bills, including the one he filed.
Rodriguez noted: “ABS-CBN is the Philippine’s largest media conglomerate in terms of revenue operating income, net income, asset, equity, market capitalization and the number of employees.”
He said ABS-CBN has also performed its social responsibility.
“ABS-CBN has been very big on corporate social responsibility, helping others, and in giving back. The late Gina Lopez initiated the Bantay Bata 163, the Bantay Kalikasan, and the Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig Project,” he said.
