President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No 10925 granting GMA another 25-year franchise, while the House bill seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN is still at the committee level
President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law renewing the franchise granted to GMA Network for another 25 years.
He signed Republic Act No. 10925 on Friday, April 21.
GMA Network, which runs television channels, radio stations, and an online news site, had been given a franchise through Republic Act No. 7252 when it was still known as Republic Broadcasting System, Inc.
RA 10925 allows GMA Network to continue operating its channels and orders it to provide air time for public service announcements, especially in times of emergency or calamity.
It also exhorts GMA Network to "comply with the applicable labor standards" with consideration to "the nature and peculiarities of the broadcast industry."
In 2015, talents hired by GMA won a case against the broadcasting company. The labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission ruled that GMA-7' contractual workers, given the nature of their job, should be treated as regular employees and be given security of tenure and benefits.
Members of the Talents Association sued GMA-7 for depriving them of law-mandated benefits like health insurance and social insurance.
RA No 10925 also allows the President to temporarily take over or stop operations of GMA Network if in the best interest of the public.
Rival network ABS-CBN Corporation is also up for franchise renewal. The President's scathing tirade against the network has sparked concern among its stockholders, especially in view of the network's pending franchise renewal. (READ: Duterte tirade 'part and parcel' of media work – Gabby Lopez)
House Bill 4349 seeking to renew the franchise granted to ABS-CBN for 25 years is still at the committee level.
The bill requires ABS-CBN to provide free public service time -- equivalent of 10% of all its ad time -- to the government to relay important public announcements and warnings.
The network is also required to make closed captioning available for its programs.
“The franchise shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines when the public interest requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privileges herein provided for,” House Bill 4349 read.
“The grantee, its successors or assignees shall comply with the applicable labor standards under existing labor laws, rules and regulations and such other issuance as may be promulgated by the Department of Labor and Employment, taking into consideration the nature and peculiarities of the broadcast industry,” the law added.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law renewing the franchise granted to GMA Network for another 25 years.
He signed Republic Act No. 10925 on Friday, April 21.
GMA Network, which runs television channels, radio stations, and an online news site, had been given a franchise through Republic Act No. 7252 when it was still known as Republic Broadcasting System, Inc.
RA 10925 allows GMA Network to continue operating its channels and orders it to provide air time for public service announcements, especially in times of emergency or calamity.
It also exhorts GMA Network to "comply with the applicable labor standards" with consideration to "the nature and peculiarities of the broadcast industry."
In 2015, talents hired by GMA won a case against the broadcasting company. The labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission ruled that GMA-7' contractual workers, given the nature of their job, should be treated as regular employees and be given security of tenure and benefits.
Members of the Talents Association sued GMA-7 for depriving them of law-mandated benefits like health insurance and social insurance.
RA No 10925 also allows the President to temporarily take over or stop operations of GMA Network if in the best interest of the public.
Rival network ABS-CBN Corporation is also up for franchise renewal. The President's scathing tirade against the network has sparked concern among its stockholders, especially in view of the network's pending franchise renewal. (READ: Duterte tirade 'part and parcel' of media work – Gabby Lopez)
House Bill 4349 seeking to renew the franchise granted to ABS-CBN for 25 years is still at the committee level.
The bill requires ABS-CBN to provide free public service time -- equivalent of 10% of all its ad time -- to the government to relay important public announcements and warnings.
The network is also required to make closed captioning available for its programs.
“The franchise shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines when the public interest requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privileges herein provided for,” House Bill 4349 read.
“The grantee, its successors or assignees shall comply with the applicable labor standards under existing labor laws, rules and regulations and such other issuance as may be promulgated by the Department of Labor and Employment, taking into consideration the nature and peculiarities of the broadcast industry,” the law added.