As Congress resumed session on Monday, Cagayan de Oro City Second District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez called on the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to immediately tackle bills seeking the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN.
Rodriguez, one of the authors of 10 pending bills, said there are only a few days left before the network’s franchise expires. Republic Ac 7966, which granted ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise from its enactment on March 30, 1995, will expire in March 2020.
“Congress will adjourn for its Holy Week break on March 11. There will only be 22 session days between now and March 11,” he added.
Rodriguez urged the Legislative Franchises committee to “hear all the authors of the 10 bills and stakeholders, specially ABS-CBN.”
“Then, the committee will have to decide to renew or not to renew the franchise. But it is not proper not to act on my bill and the other bills,” he said.
Rep. Franz Alvarez, head of the Legislative Franchises committee, earlier vowed that his panel would thoroughly study and hear all sides regarding the company’s application for franchise renewal.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly criticized ABS-CBN for allegedly not airing a 2016 campaign that he paid for. A few weeks ago, he told owners of the TV network to sell ABS-CBN because there was no guarantee that its franchise would be renewed.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/01/21/news/top-stories/tackle-abs-cbn-franchise-bill-house-urged/676177/
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