House Speaker Cayetano says he has ‘personal objections’ to ABS-CBN franchise renewal

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday admitted that he was hesitant to support the renewal of the television and radio franchises of ABS-CBN on personal grounds, despite having previously said that Congress would be fair to the media conglomerate.

In an interview yesterday on the show “Headstart” on ANC, a cable channel owned by ABS-CBN, Cayetano, a vocal supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, accused the media company of interfering in politics.

“People like me, I also have some objections” to the franchise extension, Cayetano told host Karen Davila. “I’ll tell you, this is my personal [opinion], OK?”

“On one hand, I feel that we have to protect the freedom of the press and freedom of expression; on the other hand, I feel that there are certain instances in history, and in the 2016 election, that some sectors or leaders of ABS interfered [in elections] unjustly,” he said.

“So how do you sort it out? Like right now, we can debate that, and of course, you will stand up for the network but I’d rather have it in a hearing, straight talk, face to face, and talk about it.”

Cayetano also maintained that his reluctance to support ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal has nothing to do with the objections voiced by Duterte, who has publicly said several times that he would approve or veto the renewal because the media company allegedly refused to air his political ads prior to the 2016 presidential elections despite being paid to do so.

Despite his misgivings, however, Cayetano promised that the House of Representatives will find a solution that was “acceptable” for everyone and beneficial to the country.

In the Philippines, radio and television stations have to secure a 25-year-franchise — approved by the House of Representatives — before they can operate. Since Duterte became president on June 30, 2016, he has signed 10 laws granting franchises to radio and television stations, Manila Bulletin reported. In the case of television station TV5, Duterte abstained from signing off on the franchise renewal but didn’t veto it outright, allowing the renewal to automatically lapse into law.

ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, however, has faced multiple roadblocks. Its franchise will expire in March 2020, but the panel chaired by Congressman Franz Alvarez of Palawan has yet to discuss the bills seeking to extend ABS-CBN’s license to air. This despite the existence of no fewer than six proposed laws seeking the renewal of its franchise.

Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo said in July that the renewal of the franchise will depend on the House of Representatives, and not on the president’s whims.

Observers have said that ABS-CBN is more than just a media company. Its newscasters and celebrities have become popular all over the country thanks to its wide reach, enabling many to launch successful political careers.

Its news anchors Noli de Castro, for example, was a former vice president of the Philippines, while former reporters Loren Legarda and Sol Aragones have gone on to become representatives

https://coconuts.co/manila/news/house-speaker-cayetano-says-he-has-personal-objections-to-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal/

Cayetano says he has ‘personal objections’ to ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano admitted on Monday that he had personal objections to the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN, even as he promised that the House of Representatives would be “fair” to the broadcast giant.

The leader of the 300-strong chamber implied that ABS-CBN’s 25-year license was not considered priority legislation at the moment, even though it would expire in a matter of four months, on March 30, 2020.

“People like me, I also have some objections. I’ll tell you, this is my personal, okay?” Cayetano said in an interview on ANC, the cable news channel of ABS-CBN.

‘Freedom of the press’

“On one hand I feel that we have to protect the freedom of the press and freedom of expression; on the other hand I feel that there’s certain instances in history, and in the 2016 election, that some sectors or leaders of ABS-CBN interfered unjustly,” he said.

“So how do you sort it out? Like right now, we can debate that, and of course, you will stand up for the network but I’d rather have it in a hearing, straight talk, face to face, and talk about it,” the Taguig lawmaker told TV host Karen Davila.

But Cayetano assured the public “we will find a conclusion that is acceptable to everyone but will be good for the country.”

“First and foremost, telling it straight, we will be fair. It’s our duty to be fair,” he said. “When we will take it up, [as] I’ve already stated in public and to the chairman, we will finish our priority bills so we can focus on that,” he added.

Cayetano said one way to show fairness was to have the House legislative franchises committee hold a hearing to discuss some issues involving ABS-CBN, “so that the public knows who’s right or who’s wrong.”

6 bills seek renewal

“And I’m not referring to the President because didn’t the President say he will file an objection? So that’s between ABS-CBN and the President, because I’m sure the President has legitimate criticisms,” Cayetano said.

At least six bills have been filed at the House seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, including Deputy Speakers Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas and Rose Marie Arenas of Pangasinan.

But to date, the franchises panel chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez has not tabled the measure for discussion.

In the previous Congress, similar bills were sidelined at the House as the President launched verbal attacks against the media network.

In the Philippines, radio and television broadcasters, unlike newspapers, are required to seek a franchise from Congress, pursuant to Republic Act No. 3846.

Such a setup has been criticized by media watchdogs like the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility as a weapon to control the press.

Since he assumed the presidency, Mr. Duterte had repeatedly threatened to block the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, castigating the network for running a negative ad against him during the 2016 presidential campaign, and refusing to air his own paid ad.

The President can approved any bill passed by Congress.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1185710/cayetano-objects-to-abs-cbns-franchise-renewal

Senate sets target for 2020 budget OK

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
Reporter

SENATE plenary deliberation on the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 will begin on Nov. 11 as the chamber eyes bicameral approval by the first week of December, Senate leaders said on Monday.

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, moved to extend the availability of the 2019 national budget until Dec. 31 2020 as it approved on third and final reading House Joint Resolution No. 19.

“We’re looking at two weeks of budget deliberation. Hopefully, i-approve on second reading and third reading by Nov. 22,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri told reporters in a briefing on Monday.

“With that we’re looking at possibly having the bicam[eral conference committee discussions] by November 25-30.”

Mr. Zubiri said Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara, chairman of the Finance committee, is scheduled to sponsor the proposed 2020 spending plan on Nov. 11.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said in a separate briefing on Monday that the bicameral conference committee might convene in the “first week of December.”

The House of Representatives on Sept. 20 approved House Bill No. 4228, or the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, on final reading, the same day it was passed on second reading.

The bill was certified as an urgent measure by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, allowing the chamber to do away with the required three-day interval between second- and third-reading approval.

Lawmakers are moving to assure punctual approval of next year’s spending plan, following an almost four-month delay in enactment of the P3.662-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2019 that made overall economic growth slow to 5.5% last semester from 6.3% a year ago and against a 6-7% full-year 2019 target set by the government.

“Ang consensus ng ating mga kasamahan sa Senado ay maganda naman: ipapasa the soonest possible time para hindi naman mangyari ‘yung nangyari last 17th Congress (The consensus among senators is… to approve the 2020 budget at the soonest possible time in order to avoid a repetition of what happened in the last 17th Congress),” Mr. Zubiri said.

To recall, the delay resulted from an impasse between the House and the Department of Budget and Management over a change in budgeting framework and later with the Senate over fund realignments that were deemed not in sync with the administration’s priorities. Mr. Duterte signed the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget in mid-April, but vetoed some P95 billion in funds realigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Asked whether the Senate is open to adopting the House version in order to speed up budget approval, Mr. Zubiri replied: “Malabong mangyari ’yun (That will be far-fetched),” explaining that senators have proposed amendments to the spending plan.

Mr. Sotto, however, said he is open to the idea. “Kung maganda ang sinampa sa’min na (If the) House version, magandang budget at maliwanag na budget (that we received does not have items we find questionable), yes, payag ako i-adopt (I will be amenable to adopting the House version),” Mr. Sotto said.

In a separate development, the House, voting 199-0, passed HJR No. 19, which will extend the availability of the 2019 budget for maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlays until Dec. 31, 2020.

It is a measure that is supported by the Senate. Its counterpart, Senate Joint Resolution No. 7, filed by Mr. Angara, is set to be sponsored in the plenary “this week.”

“Kailangan i-extend ang validity ng 2019 GAA dahil nawalan tayo ng six months sa implementation (We need to extend the validity of the 2019 GAA because we lost six months of implementation due to its late enactment),” Mr. Zubiri said.

He noted that under the cash-based budgeting system put in place starting this year, funds left unobligated to projects by yearend will revert to the Treasury.

Aside from late budget enactment, implementation of projects was also stalled by the ban on new public works 45 days ahead of the May 13 midterm legislative and local elections.

https://www.bworldonline.com/senate-sets-target-for-2020-budget-ok/

Mga ABS-CBN boss nakialam sa eleksyon — Alan

MATAPOS mangakong magiging patas ang Kamara sa pagtalakay sa panukalang renewal ng prangkisa ng ABS-CBN, isiniwalat naman ni House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano na tutol siya na mabigyan ng panibagong 25 taon na lisensiya ang nasabing network.

Nagpahiwatig pa si Cayetano na hindi nila prayodidad ang pagtalakay sa prangkisa ng network, kahit na mapapaso na ang lisensiya nito sa Marso 30, 2020.

Ang rason niya, nakialam daw kasi ang mga boss ng ABS-CBN noong 2016 elections kung saan tumakbo siya bilang running mate ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

“People like me, I also have some objections. I’ll tell you, this is my personal (opinion), okay?” saad ng kinatawan ng Taguig City sa interview ng ANC.

Isinumbat nito ang pangyayari noong 2016 elections kung saan ilang lider ng ABS-CBN ang nakialam umano sa kampanya.

“On one hand I feel that we have to protect the freedom of the press and freedom of expression; on the other hand I feel that there’s certain instances in history, and in the 2016 election, that some sectors or leaders of ABS interfered unjustly,” himutok ng mambabatas.

Tiniyak naman ni Cayetano sa publiko na tatapusin niya ang problema sa usapin ng franchise renewal na magi­ging katanggap-tanggap sa lahat “but will be good for the country.”

Umaabot sa anim na panukalang batas ang nakabinbin sa Kamara para sa renewal ng prangkisa ng ABS-CBN. Isa rito ay isinampa ni Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto. (JC Cahinhinan)

https://www.abante.com.ph/mga-abs-cbn-boss-nakialam-sa-eleksyon-alan.htm

GMA Network maintains Urban Luzon, Mega Manila TV ratings advantage

GMA Network kept the upper hand in the TV ratings competition in its bailiwick areas Urban Luzon and Mega Manila according to the latest data from ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For the month of October (with October 27 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA posted an average of 32.3 percent total day people audience share in Urban Luzon, outscoring ABS-CBN's 31.1 percent. The said viewer-rich area accounts for 72 percent of all urban TV viewers in the country.

The Kapuso Network continued to beat competition in the afternoon block with 33.0 percent people audience share while ABS-CBN registered 31.6 percent.

GMA also won in the evening block with 34.9 percent versus ABS-CBN's 32.9 percent.

Consistently dominating Urban Luzon's list of top rating programs is no other than Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS). The award-winning magazine program similarly led the list of top 30 shows in National Urban Philippines. Its Halloween special episode “Gabi ng Lagim” was again top-trending worldwide last October 27 and garnered a people rating of 16.8 percent.

Following KMJS in the list of top programs for October were The Boobay and Tekla Show, 24 Oras, The Clash, The Gift, Pepito Manaloto, Beautiful Justice, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Magpakailanman, Studio 7, One of the Baes, Bubble Gang, Saksi, Daddy's Gurl, Amazing Earth, Unang Hirit, Mars Pa More, Wagas, Hanggang sa Dulo ng Buhay Ko, Tadhana, Wish Ko Lang, Imbestigador, Prima Donnas, Madrasta, Wowowin, Eat Bulaga, and the recently-launched afternoon series Magkaagaw.

Likewise in Mega Manila (with official data from October 1 to 26), GMA Network recorded 32.6 percent average total day people audience share as compared to ABS-CBN which only managed to get 29.5 percent. Meanwhile, Kapuso shows took 16 spots out of the top 30 shows in the said area, which accounts for 60 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

Nielsen TV Audience Measurement's client pool covers a total of 32 clients/subscribers consisting of 6 local TV networks including ABS-CBN, TV5, Aksyon TV and CNN Philippines, among others; 3 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; and 21 agencies (17 media agencies, 3 consulting agencies, and 1 digital agency).

https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/56131/gma-network-maintains-urban-luzon-mega-manila-tv-ratings-advantage/story