Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Pagdinig sa mga panukala para sa ABS-CBN franchise sisimulan sa Mayo 26
Sisimulan nang dinggin sa Kamara sa Mayo 26 ang 13 panukalang para sa renewal ng prangkisa ng ABS-CBN at ang resolusyong imbestigahan ang mga umano'y naging paglabag sa 1995 franchise ng kompanya.
Ito ay gagawin mahigit 2 buwan matapos ang inisyal na deliberasyon noong Marso 10.
Isasalang sa House Committee on Legislative Franchises ang mga isyung ikinahaharap ng dati at bagong prangkisa ng ABS-CBN.
Wala pang ibang detalye na binigay ang komite pero ayon sa agenda na inilatag ng kamara, via Zoom teleconference ang gagawing pagdinig.
Gabi ng Martes nang tiyakin ni House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano na uumpisahan na sa susunod na linggo ang pagdinig, na hindi hihinto hanggang makapagsalita ang lahat ng panig.
“I foresee that the hearings would not go beyond July, and by August, after President Duterte’s SONA (State of the Nation Address), we should be ready to decide,” ani Cayetano.
Tantiya ni Cayetano, pinakamatagal na ang Agosto bago sila makapagdesisyon para sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN, na napaso na noong Mayo 4.
Pinapaspasan naman ni House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante ang deliberasyon alang-alang sa mga tao na walang ibang mapanood kung hindi ang ABS-CBN at mga empleyado na nanganganib ang kabuhayan sa tigil-ere ng network.
"Doon po sa Mindanao mga kaibigan ay walang masyadong network kung hindi ABS-CBN lamang... The lives and livelihood of 11,000 of our constituents hang in the balance sana po isipin natin ang kapakanan nila," ani Abante.
Umaasa si Abante na makukumbinse ng Kamara ang Korte Suprema na pabalikin sa ere ang ABS-CBN sa bisa ng temporary restraining order kontra sa National Telecommunications Commission - na nagbaba ng cease and desist order laban sa pag-ere ng ABS-CBN isang araw matapos mapaso ang prangkisa nito.
"Ang Supreme Court ay umaasa na ang Kongreso po ay magsalita tungkol po sa pinag-uusapan ngayong ABS-CBN sana naman eh makumbinse ng ating leadership na ang SC ay kampihan ang ABS-CBN as a TRO is concerned para ito ay magpatuloy habang pinag-uusapan ang prangkisa," ani Abante.
Hinimok naman ni Agusan Del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun ang buong Kamara na magkaroon ng isang paninindigan matapos pagkomentuhin ng Kamara sa petisyon ng ABS-CBN kontra cease and desist order ng NTC. -- Ulat ni RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/20/pagdinig-sa-mga-panukala-para-sa-abs-cbn-franchise-sisimulan-sa-mayo-26
Ito ay gagawin mahigit 2 buwan matapos ang inisyal na deliberasyon noong Marso 10.
Isasalang sa House Committee on Legislative Franchises ang mga isyung ikinahaharap ng dati at bagong prangkisa ng ABS-CBN.
Wala pang ibang detalye na binigay ang komite pero ayon sa agenda na inilatag ng kamara, via Zoom teleconference ang gagawing pagdinig.
Gabi ng Martes nang tiyakin ni House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano na uumpisahan na sa susunod na linggo ang pagdinig, na hindi hihinto hanggang makapagsalita ang lahat ng panig.
“I foresee that the hearings would not go beyond July, and by August, after President Duterte’s SONA (State of the Nation Address), we should be ready to decide,” ani Cayetano.
Tantiya ni Cayetano, pinakamatagal na ang Agosto bago sila makapagdesisyon para sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN, na napaso na noong Mayo 4.
Pinapaspasan naman ni House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante ang deliberasyon alang-alang sa mga tao na walang ibang mapanood kung hindi ang ABS-CBN at mga empleyado na nanganganib ang kabuhayan sa tigil-ere ng network.
"Doon po sa Mindanao mga kaibigan ay walang masyadong network kung hindi ABS-CBN lamang... The lives and livelihood of 11,000 of our constituents hang in the balance sana po isipin natin ang kapakanan nila," ani Abante.
Umaasa si Abante na makukumbinse ng Kamara ang Korte Suprema na pabalikin sa ere ang ABS-CBN sa bisa ng temporary restraining order kontra sa National Telecommunications Commission - na nagbaba ng cease and desist order laban sa pag-ere ng ABS-CBN isang araw matapos mapaso ang prangkisa nito.
"Ang Supreme Court ay umaasa na ang Kongreso po ay magsalita tungkol po sa pinag-uusapan ngayong ABS-CBN sana naman eh makumbinse ng ating leadership na ang SC ay kampihan ang ABS-CBN as a TRO is concerned para ito ay magpatuloy habang pinag-uusapan ang prangkisa," ani Abante.
Hinimok naman ni Agusan Del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun ang buong Kamara na magkaroon ng isang paninindigan matapos pagkomentuhin ng Kamara sa petisyon ng ABS-CBN kontra cease and desist order ng NTC. -- Ulat ni RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/20/pagdinig-sa-mga-panukala-para-sa-abs-cbn-franchise-sisimulan-sa-mayo-26
Embattled ABS-CBN’s future shrouded in doubt, but newsroom fights on
Two weeks ago on May 5, the Philippines’ leading TV network ABS-CBN was ordered by the government’s telecommunications agency to cease operations, sparking outcry both in the country and across the world.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) filed an immediate ‘cease and desist’ order after the network’s 25-year franchise licence had expired, pending an ongoing renewal hearing in congress.
The broadcaster’s news channel, however, is one of the few branches of ABS-CBN allowed to continue operating and Ging Reyes, Head of Integrated News and Current Affairs, painted a picture of a newsroom that is emboldened.
“Our team is still working as hard as possible, we’re all running on adrenaline,” said Reyes. “I can see it across the team, this renewed energy and never say die spirit.”
But on May 19, two decisions further compounded the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the broadcaster.
The first came in the Supreme Court, where the judges chose to defer on a plea from ABS-CBN to resume operations immediately, in what the broadcaster said would help prevent “irreparable injury”.
The court voted unanimously to give the NTC, as well as both chambers of Congress, the chance to comment within 10 days, and another five days for ABS-CBN to give additional response, further obscuring the immediate future of the broadcaster.
There was further confusion in the House of Representatives the day before on May 18. In what had looked like a formality to pass, House Bill 6732, granting ABS-CBN a temporary franchise agreement, was unexpectedly recalled by the House on the 2nd reading approval with consitionallity issues cited.
While the bill would have had to pass the Senate before being signed off by the president, it would have allowed ABS-CBN to immediately resume operations on a temporary basis until October 31.
On May 19, the House threw another curve ball and abandoned the bill to give ABS-CBN a temporary franchise, opting instead to immediately resume hearings on granting the broadcaster a new 25-year franchise. This, however, will see ABS-CBN remain off-air while potentially lengthy deliberations take place.
Edcel Lagman, member of the House for the province of Albay, said that the bill to grant a temporary franchise had “stalled like a misdirected locomotive”, before being abandoned all together. He said that the abandonment will “gravely compound the inordinate delay in the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.”
ABS-CBN’s president and CEO, Carlo Katigbak, said that it may have to start retrenchment processes, including letting workers go, by August if it is not allowed to resume normal operations soon.
In a country ruled under what many observers regard as an increasingly autocratic leader, who has repeatedly reiterated threats to block the renewal of the network’s licence, the ultimate fate of ABS-CBN’s is still shrouded in uncertainty.
However, while the highly popular free-to-air broadcasting content has been pulled, some subsidiaries of the network were not affected by the cease and desist order and continue to operate, albeit in a very different environment than before.
The network continues to produce content on its popular online and streaming platforms, while the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) can continue broadcasting as the NTC order does not cover cable news channels. TV Patrol, the broadcaster’s flagship news programme, has now also returned via streaming.
With some shows still running and a fight in the courts to return to the air, ABS-CBN is not leaving silently. In an interview with the Globe, Reyes said that the newsroom staff at ANC are working as hard as before, even during an unprecedented period for the network.
“You want to prove something, you want to prove that we are never going to be silent,” Reyes explained. “We are continuing the work that we do because it is an important service for our fellow Filipinos.”
Reyes, however, admitted that the network’s reach has been curtailed. Even though online and streaming platforms are significant, it requires strong broadband or enough data to access it – which isn’t always available across the vast Philippines archipelago.
“It’s just not enough, as people need strong internet access in all parts of the country to use these platforms,” Reyes admitted. “Ultimately, it’s the public who also lose out.”
While the events of May 5 came as a shock to outside observers, there was a sense of impending dread within the newsroom that being taken off air was a serious possibility. But it was still a hard moment for Reyes and her colleagues, however well they had prepared.
“We had this sense of dread – but we carried on with our work, of course,” she remembered.
On May 5, the day of the cease and desist order, Reyes said that everyone was on alert, checking with sources to see if word had escaped from the NTA. A member of the editorial team first received news from a source that the NTA was to decide unfavourably on the ABS issue.
“We still hadn’t got confirmation when another reporter got in touch and said, ‘I wish that I had better news – the cease and desist is on its way,’” she recalled.
Reyes said that the shock within the newsroom could be seen through masks, being worn in the office because of Covid-19.
“You know that feeling when you plan for something, but you still don’t believe that it will actually happen,” Reyes asked. “But when it does, you have to muster all your energy and courage and deal with it in the right way – but at the same time, you are in shock.”
Shock had to be channelled into grit as the newsroom started breaking news about their own network. “You know that journalists are averse to doing stories on themselves,” said Reyes. “But we knew that this was a huge story and had to be covered in full. Because it wasn’t just about us, it was also about our millions of viewers and listeners.”
Two weeks since the closure, the newsroom at ABS-CBN continues to provide coverage, vital during the continuing pandemic and lockdown in the Philippines. And while their resources are now stretched, Reyes and colleagues continue working as if nothing has changed – so when Typhoon Ambo hit the country early on May 15, ANC reporters were on the scene filling stories.
“We’re very grateful for the support we’ve been getting, and I believe that good will prevail – I still have faith in our democratic systems,” said Reyes. And driven by the ethos of the organisation, The Kapamilya Way (kapamilya meaning ‘family’ in Tagalog), the newsroom is continuing to work for the people it attempts to serve.
“These are of course unprecedented times. But we are not giving up on our commitment to be of service.”
https://southeastasiaglobe.com/abs-cbn-closure-decision/
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) filed an immediate ‘cease and desist’ order after the network’s 25-year franchise licence had expired, pending an ongoing renewal hearing in congress.
The broadcaster’s news channel, however, is one of the few branches of ABS-CBN allowed to continue operating and Ging Reyes, Head of Integrated News and Current Affairs, painted a picture of a newsroom that is emboldened.
“Our team is still working as hard as possible, we’re all running on adrenaline,” said Reyes. “I can see it across the team, this renewed energy and never say die spirit.”
But on May 19, two decisions further compounded the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the broadcaster.
The first came in the Supreme Court, where the judges chose to defer on a plea from ABS-CBN to resume operations immediately, in what the broadcaster said would help prevent “irreparable injury”.
The court voted unanimously to give the NTC, as well as both chambers of Congress, the chance to comment within 10 days, and another five days for ABS-CBN to give additional response, further obscuring the immediate future of the broadcaster.
There was further confusion in the House of Representatives the day before on May 18. In what had looked like a formality to pass, House Bill 6732, granting ABS-CBN a temporary franchise agreement, was unexpectedly recalled by the House on the 2nd reading approval with consitionallity issues cited.
While the bill would have had to pass the Senate before being signed off by the president, it would have allowed ABS-CBN to immediately resume operations on a temporary basis until October 31.
On May 19, the House threw another curve ball and abandoned the bill to give ABS-CBN a temporary franchise, opting instead to immediately resume hearings on granting the broadcaster a new 25-year franchise. This, however, will see ABS-CBN remain off-air while potentially lengthy deliberations take place.
Edcel Lagman, member of the House for the province of Albay, said that the bill to grant a temporary franchise had “stalled like a misdirected locomotive”, before being abandoned all together. He said that the abandonment will “gravely compound the inordinate delay in the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.”
ABS-CBN’s president and CEO, Carlo Katigbak, said that it may have to start retrenchment processes, including letting workers go, by August if it is not allowed to resume normal operations soon.
In a country ruled under what many observers regard as an increasingly autocratic leader, who has repeatedly reiterated threats to block the renewal of the network’s licence, the ultimate fate of ABS-CBN’s is still shrouded in uncertainty.
However, while the highly popular free-to-air broadcasting content has been pulled, some subsidiaries of the network were not affected by the cease and desist order and continue to operate, albeit in a very different environment than before.
The network continues to produce content on its popular online and streaming platforms, while the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) can continue broadcasting as the NTC order does not cover cable news channels. TV Patrol, the broadcaster’s flagship news programme, has now also returned via streaming.
With some shows still running and a fight in the courts to return to the air, ABS-CBN is not leaving silently. In an interview with the Globe, Reyes said that the newsroom staff at ANC are working as hard as before, even during an unprecedented period for the network.
“You want to prove something, you want to prove that we are never going to be silent,” Reyes explained. “We are continuing the work that we do because it is an important service for our fellow Filipinos.”
Reyes, however, admitted that the network’s reach has been curtailed. Even though online and streaming platforms are significant, it requires strong broadband or enough data to access it – which isn’t always available across the vast Philippines archipelago.
“It’s just not enough, as people need strong internet access in all parts of the country to use these platforms,” Reyes admitted. “Ultimately, it’s the public who also lose out.”
While the events of May 5 came as a shock to outside observers, there was a sense of impending dread within the newsroom that being taken off air was a serious possibility. But it was still a hard moment for Reyes and her colleagues, however well they had prepared.
“We had this sense of dread – but we carried on with our work, of course,” she remembered.
On May 5, the day of the cease and desist order, Reyes said that everyone was on alert, checking with sources to see if word had escaped from the NTA. A member of the editorial team first received news from a source that the NTA was to decide unfavourably on the ABS issue.
“We still hadn’t got confirmation when another reporter got in touch and said, ‘I wish that I had better news – the cease and desist is on its way,’” she recalled.
Reyes said that the shock within the newsroom could be seen through masks, being worn in the office because of Covid-19.
“You know that feeling when you plan for something, but you still don’t believe that it will actually happen,” Reyes asked. “But when it does, you have to muster all your energy and courage and deal with it in the right way – but at the same time, you are in shock.”
Shock had to be channelled into grit as the newsroom started breaking news about their own network. “You know that journalists are averse to doing stories on themselves,” said Reyes. “But we knew that this was a huge story and had to be covered in full. Because it wasn’t just about us, it was also about our millions of viewers and listeners.”
Two weeks since the closure, the newsroom at ABS-CBN continues to provide coverage, vital during the continuing pandemic and lockdown in the Philippines. And while their resources are now stretched, Reyes and colleagues continue working as if nothing has changed – so when Typhoon Ambo hit the country early on May 15, ANC reporters were on the scene filling stories.
“We’re very grateful for the support we’ve been getting, and I believe that good will prevail – I still have faith in our democratic systems,” said Reyes. And driven by the ethos of the organisation, The Kapamilya Way (kapamilya meaning ‘family’ in Tagalog), the newsroom is continuing to work for the people it attempts to serve.
“These are of course unprecedented times. But we are not giving up on our commitment to be of service.”
https://southeastasiaglobe.com/abs-cbn-closure-decision/
House 'ready to decide' on ABS-CBN franchise by August
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said the House of Representatives would be "ready to decide" on a new 25-year franchise for ABS-CBN Corp. by August, the same month that the network said it might "consider" retrenchment of its 11,000-strong workforce.
The Lower House stopped deliberations for the proposed 5-month provisional permit for the broadcaster and opted to hear bills seeking to give it a 25-year franchise.
Deliberations by the House franchises committee will continue during the Congress recess starting in June, said Cayetano.
"They will not stop until they are finished so that no one can say we’re stopping the process or dragging our feet," he told ABS-CBN News.
"I foresee that the hearings would not go beyond July, and by August, after President Duterte’s SONA (State of the Nation Address), we should be ready to decide," he added.
Lawmakers will hold 2 or 3 hearings per week to tackle "no more than 10 issues" related to the franchise. Some witnesses and resource persons would be required to physically appear before the committee, provided social distancing and other health protocols are observed, he said.
House Committee on Legislative Franchises chair Franz Alvarez said the franchise hearing is set on May 26, 9:30 a.m.
"The hearings must be fair, impartial, comprehensive, and thorough. All voices must be heard and all issues for and against will be discussed…this will require a lot of time - time we do not have. And so, there will be sacrifices on our part if we hope to finish this without delay," said Cayetano.
"For those who are calling for an outright approval or denial, I ask that you suspend your extreme views until all the facts have been presented, and all the testimonies have been heard," he said.
ABS-CBN said it has been losing P30-35 million in advertising revenues daily since regulators forced it off air last May 5, a day after its franchise expired.
The 65-year-old media outfit promised it "would not take away any jobs for 3 months." However, it may "consider" retrenching workers by August if it fails to resume broadcast soon, President and CEO Carlo Katigbak told senators.
The National Telecommunication Commission told lawmakers in March that it would let the country's top broadcaster operate provisionally beyond the May 4 expiration of its license, while bills for its franchise renewal stalled in Congress for years.
But days after Solicitor General Jose Calida warned NTC officials that they could face graft charges if they gave ABS-CBN a provisional permit, the regulator ordered the outfit to stop broadcasting.
news.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/20/house-ready-to-decide-on-abs-cbn-franchise-by-august
The Lower House stopped deliberations for the proposed 5-month provisional permit for the broadcaster and opted to hear bills seeking to give it a 25-year franchise.
Deliberations by the House franchises committee will continue during the Congress recess starting in June, said Cayetano.
"They will not stop until they are finished so that no one can say we’re stopping the process or dragging our feet," he told ABS-CBN News.
"I foresee that the hearings would not go beyond July, and by August, after President Duterte’s SONA (State of the Nation Address), we should be ready to decide," he added.
Lawmakers will hold 2 or 3 hearings per week to tackle "no more than 10 issues" related to the franchise. Some witnesses and resource persons would be required to physically appear before the committee, provided social distancing and other health protocols are observed, he said.
House Committee on Legislative Franchises chair Franz Alvarez said the franchise hearing is set on May 26, 9:30 a.m.
"The hearings must be fair, impartial, comprehensive, and thorough. All voices must be heard and all issues for and against will be discussed…this will require a lot of time - time we do not have. And so, there will be sacrifices on our part if we hope to finish this without delay," said Cayetano.
"For those who are calling for an outright approval or denial, I ask that you suspend your extreme views until all the facts have been presented, and all the testimonies have been heard," he said.
ABS-CBN said it has been losing P30-35 million in advertising revenues daily since regulators forced it off air last May 5, a day after its franchise expired.
The 65-year-old media outfit promised it "would not take away any jobs for 3 months." However, it may "consider" retrenching workers by August if it fails to resume broadcast soon, President and CEO Carlo Katigbak told senators.
The National Telecommunication Commission told lawmakers in March that it would let the country's top broadcaster operate provisionally beyond the May 4 expiration of its license, while bills for its franchise renewal stalled in Congress for years.
But days after Solicitor General Jose Calida warned NTC officials that they could face graft charges if they gave ABS-CBN a provisional permit, the regulator ordered the outfit to stop broadcasting.
news.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/20/house-ready-to-decide-on-abs-cbn-franchise-by-august
Census to be moved from May to September
THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) plan to move the decade census to September this year due to the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said they will be writing to the House of Representatives and Senate of the Philippines regarding the matter.
According to Batas Pambansa 72, the government needs to conduct a population census every 10 years beginning 1980. The census should be conducted starting on the first day of May.
“We will be writing to both Houses of Congress to seek your indulgence [regarding this matter] at this difficult time,” Chua said.
Chua said the decision to move the census takes into consideration the safety of enumerators and households at this time.
The 2020 CPH will be the 15th census of population and 7th census of housing to be undertaken in the country since the first census in 1903.
The CPH refers to the entire process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing and disseminating data about the population and living quarters in a country.
It entails the listing and recording of the characteristics of each individual and each living quarter as of a specified time and within a specified territory.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/05/20/census-to-be-moved-from-may-to-september/
In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said they will be writing to the House of Representatives and Senate of the Philippines regarding the matter.
According to Batas Pambansa 72, the government needs to conduct a population census every 10 years beginning 1980. The census should be conducted starting on the first day of May.
“We will be writing to both Houses of Congress to seek your indulgence [regarding this matter] at this difficult time,” Chua said.
Chua said the decision to move the census takes into consideration the safety of enumerators and households at this time.
The 2020 CPH will be the 15th census of population and 7th census of housing to be undertaken in the country since the first census in 1903.
The CPH refers to the entire process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing and disseminating data about the population and living quarters in a country.
It entails the listing and recording of the characteristics of each individual and each living quarter as of a specified time and within a specified territory.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/05/20/census-to-be-moved-from-may-to-september/
National ID system: 5 million registrants eyed this year
The government is eyeing the registration of the heads of five million low-income families for the national ID system by December to ensure a more efficient distribution of relief assistance in the future.
In his eighth report to Congress on the government’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic, President Duterte said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is fasttracking the implementation of the national ID system to improve targeting and distribution of financial aid to poor and low-income households.
Duterte said the PSA aims to open the registration process in October with 6,500 registration kits in 46 permanent registration centers and 1,170 mobile registration centers nationwide.
The PSA is coordinating with the Land Bank of the Philippines for the use of the bank’s 126 branches as registration centers.
Duterte had earlier said the implementation of the national ID system could have facilitated the distribution of assistance to those affected by the community quarantine due to COVID-19.
The President said the Philippine Institute for Development Studies is also working on the implementing rules of the Community-Based Monitoring System Act.
“The accelerated nationwide implementation of a community-based monitoring system shall allow the government to profile and identify households vulnerable to certain risks as well as qualified beneficiaries of targeted programs,” Duterte said.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/05/20/2015260/national-id-system-5-million-registrants-eyed-year
In his eighth report to Congress on the government’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic, President Duterte said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is fasttracking the implementation of the national ID system to improve targeting and distribution of financial aid to poor and low-income households.
Duterte said the PSA aims to open the registration process in October with 6,500 registration kits in 46 permanent registration centers and 1,170 mobile registration centers nationwide.
The PSA is coordinating with the Land Bank of the Philippines for the use of the bank’s 126 branches as registration centers.
Duterte had earlier said the implementation of the national ID system could have facilitated the distribution of assistance to those affected by the community quarantine due to COVID-19.
The President said the Philippine Institute for Development Studies is also working on the implementing rules of the Community-Based Monitoring System Act.
“The accelerated nationwide implementation of a community-based monitoring system shall allow the government to profile and identify households vulnerable to certain risks as well as qualified beneficiaries of targeted programs,” Duterte said.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/05/20/2015260/national-id-system-5-million-registrants-eyed-year
Gov't 'can't rush' National ID System due to risks: NEDA chief
The government "cannot rush" the implementation of the National ID System this year as there are "privacy, security and COVID" risks that have to be ironed out, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua said Tuesday.
The government plans to finish the procurement of equipment by August, and begin the registration of household heads by the last quarter of 2020, Chua told senators in a hybrid hearing.
"Ang National ID po kasi hindi po natin puwede i-rush, baka magkamali kasi mayroon po tayong security, privacy at COVID risk," he said.
"Kung mag-mass registration po tayo, 'yung iris scan, 'yung fingerprint, 'yung ballpen, lahat po yan, yung papel ay puwede mag spread ng virus," he said.
While the country is still under different levels of quarantine, the government is trying to develop the registration software procured from India, the NEDA chief said.
"Ang maganda po dito we are not developing from scratch... Once we have that system developed, then we would be ready to begin registration by the end of the year," he said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority expects to have 5 million household heads registered by the end of this year, and have 90 million Filipinos under the system by the end of 2022.
"Ang bata hindi pa puwede mag-ID kasi hindi pa natin maca-capture yung iris at yung fingerprint kung batang-bata pa... pero bibigyan na po sila ng ID number upon birth," Chua said.
The National ID System Act was was enacted into law in 2018, giving the PSA an annual allocation of P2 billion for the program.
Senators earlier filed a resolution seeking an investigation on why the implementation of the program has been delayed for 2 years, as the system was expected to fast-track the delivery of cash aid to those hit by the coronavirus crisis.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/govt-cant-rush-national-id-system-due-to-risks-neda-chief
The government plans to finish the procurement of equipment by August, and begin the registration of household heads by the last quarter of 2020, Chua told senators in a hybrid hearing.
"Ang National ID po kasi hindi po natin puwede i-rush, baka magkamali kasi mayroon po tayong security, privacy at COVID risk," he said.
"Kung mag-mass registration po tayo, 'yung iris scan, 'yung fingerprint, 'yung ballpen, lahat po yan, yung papel ay puwede mag spread ng virus," he said.
While the country is still under different levels of quarantine, the government is trying to develop the registration software procured from India, the NEDA chief said.
"Ang maganda po dito we are not developing from scratch... Once we have that system developed, then we would be ready to begin registration by the end of the year," he said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority expects to have 5 million household heads registered by the end of this year, and have 90 million Filipinos under the system by the end of 2022.
"Ang bata hindi pa puwede mag-ID kasi hindi pa natin maca-capture yung iris at yung fingerprint kung batang-bata pa... pero bibigyan na po sila ng ID number upon birth," Chua said.
The National ID System Act was was enacted into law in 2018, giving the PSA an annual allocation of P2 billion for the program.
Senators earlier filed a resolution seeking an investigation on why the implementation of the program has been delayed for 2 years, as the system was expected to fast-track the delivery of cash aid to those hit by the coronavirus crisis.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/govt-cant-rush-national-id-system-due-to-risks-neda-chief
Lawmakers lament abandonment of ABS-CBN provisional franchise bill
Some members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday lamented the dropping of a provisional franchise bill for ABS-CBN's broadcast operations, after the majority of the House decided instead to hear bills for a 25-year franchise.
Rep. Edcel Lagman said the abandonment of the provisional franchise bill will greatly affect the company and its employees.
"This abandonment underscores the failure of leadership in the House after no less than Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano principally authored and passionately sponsored the ill-fated interim franchise whose approval was recommended by the 'Committee of the Whole,' which is rarely constituted," he said in a statement.
"The abandonment of HB No. 6732 quashes the hope for the resumption of ABS-CBN’s operations, albeit on a provisional franchise, for the benefit of the public and the networks’ employees," Lagman said.
According to Lagman, the provisional franchise was an ideal compromise to allow the company to resume operations while deliberations on its full 25-year franchise are ongoing.
"There is no overriding reason to abandon HB No. 6732 except for a furtive and sinister outside interference in the discharge of the constitutional duty of the House," he said.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, for her part, urged her fellow lawmakers to act on ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise renewal as soon as possible for the benefit of the public.
"Bakit tila iniiwan natin sa ere ang libo-libong manggagawa ng ABS-CBN na apektado rin ng pandemya?" she said in her manifestation.
(Why does it seem like we just left thousands of ABS-CBN employees hanging, when they are also affected by the pandemic?)
She added the House of Representatives is doing the public a disservice if it would continue to sit on the issue of the company's franchise.
"Walang mawawala sa gobyerno at sambayanan sa ngayon kung hahayaan na makabalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN hanggang Oktubre. (The government and the public will not lose anything if we let ABS-CBN to go back on air until October.) On the contrary, the House would be doing a disservice to the Filipino people if it will continue to sit on the network’s franchise, as millions of Filipinos in far-flung areas are deprived of vital news and information amid the pandemic," Brosas said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, likewise, said the House should act on the matter urgently and prove Congress' jurisdiction on the issue.
"We must act urgently on this matter, as we also similarly act with urgency on the other pressing matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis it spawned, in the service of the Filipino," Zarate said in a statement.
Zarate said he, along with other Makabayan lawmakers, filed a bill for the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, yet he could have voted in favor of the provisional franchise as it would allow the company to resume operations.
"Together with the Makabayan representatives, I filed House Bill No. 6052 on January 27, 2020, which bill sought to grant Applicant another 25 years of franchise. Yet, I supported HB 6732, if only to allow ABS-CBN to immediately go back on air while the renewal bills are still being deliberated," he said.
"While I can no longer cast yes vote for House Bill 6732 granting provisional franchise to ABS CBN which would be valid only until October 2020, I now strongly urge my colleagues in Congress, particularly the Committee on Legislative Franchise, to immediately and urgently hear and resolve the renewal bills pertaining to the grant of a fresh franchise to ABS CBN Corporation," Zarate added.
In his proposal last week, Cayetano said granting ABS-CBN provisional franchise would allow Congress to focus on response to the coronavirus pandemic and time to thoroughly discuss issues against ABS-CBN.
On Monday, lawmakers raised charges ABS-CBN has already answered in a Senate hearing in February, including tax and labor issues of which government officials have themselves cleared the network.
ABS-CBN's broadcast operations were halted on May 5 on orders of the National Telecommunications Commission, which issued a cease and desist order after the network's franchise lapsed on May 4.
Bills for the renewal of ABS-CBN's broadcast license have been pending for years. Its shutdown puts at risk some 11,000 jobs, with the network's President and CEO Carlo Katigbak telling a Senate hearing earlier Tuesday that it may consider layoffs by August if it remains off the air.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/lawmakers-lament-abandonment-of-abs-cbn-provisional-franchise-bill
Rep. Edcel Lagman said the abandonment of the provisional franchise bill will greatly affect the company and its employees.
"This abandonment underscores the failure of leadership in the House after no less than Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano principally authored and passionately sponsored the ill-fated interim franchise whose approval was recommended by the 'Committee of the Whole,' which is rarely constituted," he said in a statement.
"The abandonment of HB No. 6732 quashes the hope for the resumption of ABS-CBN’s operations, albeit on a provisional franchise, for the benefit of the public and the networks’ employees," Lagman said.
According to Lagman, the provisional franchise was an ideal compromise to allow the company to resume operations while deliberations on its full 25-year franchise are ongoing.
"There is no overriding reason to abandon HB No. 6732 except for a furtive and sinister outside interference in the discharge of the constitutional duty of the House," he said.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, for her part, urged her fellow lawmakers to act on ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise renewal as soon as possible for the benefit of the public.
"Bakit tila iniiwan natin sa ere ang libo-libong manggagawa ng ABS-CBN na apektado rin ng pandemya?" she said in her manifestation.
(Why does it seem like we just left thousands of ABS-CBN employees hanging, when they are also affected by the pandemic?)
She added the House of Representatives is doing the public a disservice if it would continue to sit on the issue of the company's franchise.
"Walang mawawala sa gobyerno at sambayanan sa ngayon kung hahayaan na makabalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN hanggang Oktubre. (The government and the public will not lose anything if we let ABS-CBN to go back on air until October.) On the contrary, the House would be doing a disservice to the Filipino people if it will continue to sit on the network’s franchise, as millions of Filipinos in far-flung areas are deprived of vital news and information amid the pandemic," Brosas said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, likewise, said the House should act on the matter urgently and prove Congress' jurisdiction on the issue.
"We must act urgently on this matter, as we also similarly act with urgency on the other pressing matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis it spawned, in the service of the Filipino," Zarate said in a statement.
Zarate said he, along with other Makabayan lawmakers, filed a bill for the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, yet he could have voted in favor of the provisional franchise as it would allow the company to resume operations.
"Together with the Makabayan representatives, I filed House Bill No. 6052 on January 27, 2020, which bill sought to grant Applicant another 25 years of franchise. Yet, I supported HB 6732, if only to allow ABS-CBN to immediately go back on air while the renewal bills are still being deliberated," he said.
"While I can no longer cast yes vote for House Bill 6732 granting provisional franchise to ABS CBN which would be valid only until October 2020, I now strongly urge my colleagues in Congress, particularly the Committee on Legislative Franchise, to immediately and urgently hear and resolve the renewal bills pertaining to the grant of a fresh franchise to ABS CBN Corporation," Zarate added.
In his proposal last week, Cayetano said granting ABS-CBN provisional franchise would allow Congress to focus on response to the coronavirus pandemic and time to thoroughly discuss issues against ABS-CBN.
On Monday, lawmakers raised charges ABS-CBN has already answered in a Senate hearing in February, including tax and labor issues of which government officials have themselves cleared the network.
ABS-CBN's broadcast operations were halted on May 5 on orders of the National Telecommunications Commission, which issued a cease and desist order after the network's franchise lapsed on May 4.
Bills for the renewal of ABS-CBN's broadcast license have been pending for years. Its shutdown puts at risk some 11,000 jobs, with the network's President and CEO Carlo Katigbak telling a Senate hearing earlier Tuesday that it may consider layoffs by August if it remains off the air.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/lawmakers-lament-abandonment-of-abs-cbn-provisional-franchise-bill
House drops ABS-CBN's provisional franchise, to tackle bills for 25-year license
(3rd UPDATE) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday decided to stop deliberations on a provisional franchise for ABS-CBN Corp, opting instead to hear bills for a 25-year franchise.
Speaking to the plenary, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said they have decided to forego the provisional franchise- a proposal he led giving ABS-CBN license until October 2020- citing the divisiveness it has brought to the chamber.
"Because of all this divisiveness and after consulting with the members of the House, the political parties, and the regional groups… I, together with the House of Representatives leadership have decided to forego with the provisional franchise, and immediately proceed with the hearings for the full 25-year renewal application of the ABS-CBN franchise," he said.
The proposed provisional franchise was passed on first and second reading on the same day last week, but the House opted to reopen the period of debates and amendments Monday to avoid possible legal questions.
Cayetano said the bills for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal will be tackled by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.
He said the panel should "immediately and continuously hold hearings until everyone is heard."
The chamber is set to go on break on June 5 and will come back when session reopens on the fourth week of July, when the President delivers his State of the Nation Address.
"And after everyone is heard, then we can decide," he said.
The Speaker later said in an interview with ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo that hearings would continue even during the session break.
"Magsisimula na po next week (ang hearings) at hindi po sila titigil hanggang tapos na. Hinihiling ko po na lahat makapagsalita, pati po 'yung maanghang ang salita, we will ask them to follow the right decorum. But we will allow them to speak," he said.
(The hearings will start next week and they won't stop until this issue is finished. I'm asking that everyone will be able to speak, even those who have harsh words, we will ask them to follow the right decorum. But we will allow them to speak.)
Cayetano said that the House hearings on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal will be similar to special sessions the chamber had conducted for the government's COVID-19 response.
"Katulad naman nung ginawa naman natin sa disease COVID-19 committee, kahit na break nung 6 weeks during ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), tuloy-tuloy ang hearing natin. So, there'll be probably be a hybrid (session), minsan kailangan 'yung resource person nandito mismo. Ba't yung ibang hearing, we can do in Zoom or teleconferencing," he said.
(What we did at the COVID-19 committee, even if we had 6 weeks of break during the ECQ, our hearings will be continuous. So, there'll probably be a hybrid session, sometimes the resource person will be on the floor himself. But other hearings, we can do in Zoom or teleconferencing.)
Cayetano said the hearings likely won't reach the end of July.
"Napakahaba na nun (That's too long)," he said, adding issues surrounding the broadcast giant's franchise renewal won't need lengthy deliberations.
Hearings on the franchise renewal bills will be held 2 to 3 times a week along with other bills, Cayetano said in another interview on ABS-CBN's TV Patrol.
The Speaker admitted the issue on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal is "emotionally heavy" for the network's workers, viewers and supporters, but he stressed that the country is still facing the threat of the fast-spreading COVID-19, forcing the chamber to allot some of their time on programs against the pandemic.
"Sana po magkaisa tayo dito. Pagdasal niyo din po kami, baka makahanap po tayo ng isang paraan na magsama-sama tayo kahit sa issue na 'to. But in the meantime po, we will have the hearings," he said.
(I hope all of us will unite on this. Please also pray for us, that we may find a solution that will unite us on this issue. But in the meantime, we will have the hearings.)
Opposition to bill abandonment
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers lamented the dropping of the provisional franchise bill.
In a statement, Rep. Edcel Lagman said the abandonment of House Bill 6732 underscores the failure of the House leadership, considering that it was Cayetano himself who sponsored the bill.
"This abandonment underscores the failure of leadership in the House after no less than Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano principally authored and passionately sponsored the ill-fated interim franchise whose approval was recommended by the “Committee of the Whole”, which is rarely constituted," he said.
He also said that the abandonment of the provisional franchise will greatly affect the company and its employees.
"The abandonment of HB No. 6732 quashes the hope for the resumption of ABS-CBN’s operation, albeit on a provisional franchise, for the benefit of the public and the networks’ employees," Lagman said.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, for her part, urged her fellow lawmakers to act on the company's franchise renewal as soon as possible for the benefit of the public.
"What the House did was to suspend the hopes of the 11,000 ABS-CBN workers in mid-air while the country’s largest network will remain off-air. Ang panawagan natin sa Gabriela Women’s Party: Ibalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN. Subalit bakit tila iniiwan natin sa ere ang libo-libong manggagawa ng ABS-CBN na apektado rin ng pandemya?" she said in her manifestation.
(We in Gabriel Women's Party call for ABS-CBN to be back on air, but why does it seem like we just left thousands of ABS-CBN employees hanging, when they and their families are also affected by the pandemic?)
She added the House of Representatives is doing the public a disservice if it would continue to sit on the issue of the company's franchise.
"Walang mawawala sa gobyerno at sambayanan sa ngayon kung hahayaan na makabalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN hanggang Oktubre. (The government and the public will not lose anything if we let ABS-CBN to go back on air until October.) On the contrary, the House would be doing a disservice to the Filipino people if it will continue to sit on the network’s franchise, as millions of Filipinos in far-flung areas are deprived of vital news and information amid the pandemic," Brosas said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, likewise, said the House should act on the matter urgently and prove the Congress' jurisdiction on the issue.
"Let us prove to the public and to other government agencies that Congress has indeed primary jurisdiction over franchises of this nature," he said in a statement.
"We must act urgently on this matter, as we also similarly act with urgency on the other pressing matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis it spawned, in the service of the Filipino," Zarate added.
In his proposal last week, Cayetano said granting ABS-CBN provisional franchise would allow Congress to focus on response to the coronavirus pandemic and time to thoroughly discuss issues against ABS-CBN.
On Monday, lawmakers raised charges ABS-CBN has already answered in a Senate hearing in February, including tax and labor issues of which government officials have themselves cleared the network.
ABS-CBN's broadcast operations were halted on May 5 on orders of the National Telecommunications Commission, which issued a cease and desist order after the network's franchise lapsed on May 4.
Bills for the renewal of ABS-CBN's broadcast license have been pending for years. Its shutdown puts at risk some 11,000 jobs, with the network's President and CEO Carlo Katigbak telling a Senate hearing earlier Tuesday that it may consider layoffs by August if it remains off the air.
- reports from Rose Carmelle Lacuata and Gabriel Agcaoili, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/house-drops-abs-cbns-provisional-franchise-to-tackle-bills-for-25-year-license
Speaking to the plenary, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said they have decided to forego the provisional franchise- a proposal he led giving ABS-CBN license until October 2020- citing the divisiveness it has brought to the chamber.
"Because of all this divisiveness and after consulting with the members of the House, the political parties, and the regional groups… I, together with the House of Representatives leadership have decided to forego with the provisional franchise, and immediately proceed with the hearings for the full 25-year renewal application of the ABS-CBN franchise," he said.
The proposed provisional franchise was passed on first and second reading on the same day last week, but the House opted to reopen the period of debates and amendments Monday to avoid possible legal questions.
Cayetano said the bills for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal will be tackled by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.
He said the panel should "immediately and continuously hold hearings until everyone is heard."
The chamber is set to go on break on June 5 and will come back when session reopens on the fourth week of July, when the President delivers his State of the Nation Address.
"And after everyone is heard, then we can decide," he said.
The Speaker later said in an interview with ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo that hearings would continue even during the session break.
"Magsisimula na po next week (ang hearings) at hindi po sila titigil hanggang tapos na. Hinihiling ko po na lahat makapagsalita, pati po 'yung maanghang ang salita, we will ask them to follow the right decorum. But we will allow them to speak," he said.
(The hearings will start next week and they won't stop until this issue is finished. I'm asking that everyone will be able to speak, even those who have harsh words, we will ask them to follow the right decorum. But we will allow them to speak.)
Cayetano said that the House hearings on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal will be similar to special sessions the chamber had conducted for the government's COVID-19 response.
"Katulad naman nung ginawa naman natin sa disease COVID-19 committee, kahit na break nung 6 weeks during ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), tuloy-tuloy ang hearing natin. So, there'll be probably be a hybrid (session), minsan kailangan 'yung resource person nandito mismo. Ba't yung ibang hearing, we can do in Zoom or teleconferencing," he said.
(What we did at the COVID-19 committee, even if we had 6 weeks of break during the ECQ, our hearings will be continuous. So, there'll probably be a hybrid session, sometimes the resource person will be on the floor himself. But other hearings, we can do in Zoom or teleconferencing.)
Cayetano said the hearings likely won't reach the end of July.
"Napakahaba na nun (That's too long)," he said, adding issues surrounding the broadcast giant's franchise renewal won't need lengthy deliberations.
Hearings on the franchise renewal bills will be held 2 to 3 times a week along with other bills, Cayetano said in another interview on ABS-CBN's TV Patrol.
The Speaker admitted the issue on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal is "emotionally heavy" for the network's workers, viewers and supporters, but he stressed that the country is still facing the threat of the fast-spreading COVID-19, forcing the chamber to allot some of their time on programs against the pandemic.
"Sana po magkaisa tayo dito. Pagdasal niyo din po kami, baka makahanap po tayo ng isang paraan na magsama-sama tayo kahit sa issue na 'to. But in the meantime po, we will have the hearings," he said.
(I hope all of us will unite on this. Please also pray for us, that we may find a solution that will unite us on this issue. But in the meantime, we will have the hearings.)
Opposition to bill abandonment
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers lamented the dropping of the provisional franchise bill.
In a statement, Rep. Edcel Lagman said the abandonment of House Bill 6732 underscores the failure of the House leadership, considering that it was Cayetano himself who sponsored the bill.
"This abandonment underscores the failure of leadership in the House after no less than Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano principally authored and passionately sponsored the ill-fated interim franchise whose approval was recommended by the “Committee of the Whole”, which is rarely constituted," he said.
He also said that the abandonment of the provisional franchise will greatly affect the company and its employees.
"The abandonment of HB No. 6732 quashes the hope for the resumption of ABS-CBN’s operation, albeit on a provisional franchise, for the benefit of the public and the networks’ employees," Lagman said.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, for her part, urged her fellow lawmakers to act on the company's franchise renewal as soon as possible for the benefit of the public.
"What the House did was to suspend the hopes of the 11,000 ABS-CBN workers in mid-air while the country’s largest network will remain off-air. Ang panawagan natin sa Gabriela Women’s Party: Ibalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN. Subalit bakit tila iniiwan natin sa ere ang libo-libong manggagawa ng ABS-CBN na apektado rin ng pandemya?" she said in her manifestation.
(We in Gabriel Women's Party call for ABS-CBN to be back on air, but why does it seem like we just left thousands of ABS-CBN employees hanging, when they and their families are also affected by the pandemic?)
She added the House of Representatives is doing the public a disservice if it would continue to sit on the issue of the company's franchise.
"Walang mawawala sa gobyerno at sambayanan sa ngayon kung hahayaan na makabalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN hanggang Oktubre. (The government and the public will not lose anything if we let ABS-CBN to go back on air until October.) On the contrary, the House would be doing a disservice to the Filipino people if it will continue to sit on the network’s franchise, as millions of Filipinos in far-flung areas are deprived of vital news and information amid the pandemic," Brosas said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, likewise, said the House should act on the matter urgently and prove the Congress' jurisdiction on the issue.
"Let us prove to the public and to other government agencies that Congress has indeed primary jurisdiction over franchises of this nature," he said in a statement.
"We must act urgently on this matter, as we also similarly act with urgency on the other pressing matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis it spawned, in the service of the Filipino," Zarate added.
In his proposal last week, Cayetano said granting ABS-CBN provisional franchise would allow Congress to focus on response to the coronavirus pandemic and time to thoroughly discuss issues against ABS-CBN.
On Monday, lawmakers raised charges ABS-CBN has already answered in a Senate hearing in February, including tax and labor issues of which government officials have themselves cleared the network.
ABS-CBN's broadcast operations were halted on May 5 on orders of the National Telecommunications Commission, which issued a cease and desist order after the network's franchise lapsed on May 4.
Bills for the renewal of ABS-CBN's broadcast license have been pending for years. Its shutdown puts at risk some 11,000 jobs, with the network's President and CEO Carlo Katigbak telling a Senate hearing earlier Tuesday that it may consider layoffs by August if it remains off the air.
- reports from Rose Carmelle Lacuata and Gabriel Agcaoili, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/house-drops-abs-cbns-provisional-franchise-to-tackle-bills-for-25-year-license
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