House drafting group formed for verdict on ABS-CBN franchise bid

A congressional committee on Thursday wrapped up deliberations on ABS-CBN's bid to return on the air, appointing a 3-member group to draft recommendations on whether the shuttered broadcast network should be granted a new operating franchise.

The Committee on Legislative Franchises is set to decide on the fate of the largest media network in the Philippines on Friday, said Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who will be allowed to vote as the minority leader.

A rejection by the committee of ABS-CBN's franchise application will shut it down for good, more than 2 months after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease-and-desist order over an expired franchise.

The network had been trying to renew its original 25-year franchise since 2014, but faced several roadblocks, especially under the new administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who had repeatedly promised to close it down.

Before the crucial House vote, a technical working group (TWG) will "study and draft recommendations" on ABS-CBN's application for a "more systematic and organized consideration" of the issues raised against it during 12 marathon hearings, said Rep. Franz Alvarez, chairman of the franchise committee.

The group will be composed of Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo of Camiguin, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu, and Rep. Stella Quimbo of Marikina City.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate earlier presented a summation of why ABS-CBN deserved a new franchise, noting how congressmen made the network "pass through the needle" in a process that was heretofore swift and non-contentious for other broadcast companies. 

Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta summarized the allegations against the network, saying: "It is high time that the sovereignty of the airwaves be restored to the people, the ones who will finally decide to whom and when to grant this special privilege called franchise."

Alvarez said voting members should decide based on the "facts and testimonies presented by all sides."

"This is a historic opportunity for the 18th Congress to make a difference and prove our independence and integrity as an institution," he said.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/09/20/house-drafting-group-formed-for-verdict-on-abs-cbn-franchise-bid

23rd Anniversary August 18 19 2007 Ang Ating Pamana Part 2 Copy

ALAMIN: Proseso ng botohan sa Kamara para sa ABS-CBN franchise | TV Patrol

Inabot nang isang dosenang pagdinig ang Kamara para busisiin ang aplikasyon ng ABS-CBN para sa panibagong prangkisa na magbibigay-daan sa pagbabalik nito sa ere. 

Sa Huwebes, nakatakda ang "summation" kung saan muling papasadahan ang lahat ng akusasyon laban sa ABS-CBN pati na rin ang sagot at depensa nila dito.

Sakaling matapos ito nang maaga, inaasahang pagbobotohan na kung bibigyan o hindi ng bagong prangkisa ang network.

Una nang sinabi ni House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano na pairalin dapat ng mga mambabatas ang "conscience vote."

Kung ito ang mananaig, tiwala si Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun na lulusot ang bagong prangkisa para sa ABS-CBN. 

"Pag talagang totoo ito, I believe that a greater majority of the members of the committee will vote to approve the franchise," ani Fortun. 

Tanging 46 na miyembro ng House legislative franchises committee ang puwedeng bumoto at 48 lider ng Kamara na ex-officio members. 

Para pumasa sa committee level, kailangan ang majority vote o higit kalahati ng boto. Kung hindi sapat ang boto, mananatiling wala sa ere ang ABS-CBN dahil sa kawalan ng prangkisa.

Pero puwedeng iapela ang desisyon sa komite.

Sakaling lumusot sa komite, pag-iisahin ang mga panukala at isasalang sa plenaryo para pagdebatihan at amyendahan.

Dito, puwedeng paikliin, pahabain o ibasura ang hiling na 25 taong prangkisa. Puwede ring magpasok ng mga bagong kondisyon.

Sakaling pumasa ang franchise sa Kamara, diretso ito sa Senado para muling busisiin.

Kung magpasa ng ibang bersyon ang Senado, isasalang ang panukala sa bicameral conference committee para muling plantsahin.

Sa huli, na kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kung pipirmahan ang franchise bill. 

Kung uupuan, magiging batas ito makalipas ang 30 araw. Kung i-veto naman, puwede pa rin itong ipasa ng Kongreso sa pamamagitan ng 2/3 vote.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/08/20/alamin-proseso-ng-botohan-sa-kamara-para-sa-abs-cbn-franchise

The One Reason Why You Shouldn’t Quit

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

The next time that you feel that you don't count, please remember the time Sir Michael Costra was conducting a rehearsal of a combined orchestra and choral group.  About half-way through the rehearsal, the person playing the piccolo began thinking that amidst all the noise of drums, trumpets, violins, and so forth, that his lowly contribution didn't amount to much.  So he continued to keep the musical instrument pursed to his lips, but he stopped playing.

Moments later the conductor shouted, "Stop!  Stop!" and exclaimed, "Where's the piccolo?"  And the piccolo player thought that he made no difference.

There are lots of piccolo players!  You will find them in every church as well as in schools, service clubs, and organizations--the person who thinks, “I don’t matter.  Nobody notices what I do.  Nobody ever says ‘Thank you!’"  Like the piccolo player in Costa's orchestra, they show up for a while, going through the motions of holding their instrument, and then they finally quit!

The difference between life and the orchestra is that God doesn't shout, "Stop! Stop!  Where's the piccolo?"   And seldom does anyone take you by the shoulder, patting your hand warmly, and say, "Please don't quit!"

A powerful question which makes you a self-starting piccolo player is simply, "What's my motive?"  Am I doing this because of the kind words or compliments which come my way?  Or am I doing this because I believe that whether my part is small or great, it counts because I'm doing this as unto the glory of God!

In one of Agatha Christie's stories, there is a line which bears repeating.  Mr. Satterwaithe says, "Your cue may not come 'til the end of the play--it may be totally unimportant, a mere walking-on part, but upon it may hang the issue of the play.  If you do not give the cue to another player the whole edifice may crumple.  You, as you, may not matter to anyone in the world, but you as a person in a particular place may matter unimaginably."

So is it in life!  In the economy of God there is no such thing as greatness or trivia, for with Him the small and the great make wholeness and it takes each, endowed with the special purpose of the Creator.

This, of course, runs contrary to the logic and thinking of the world that places far greater honor on the athlete than the teacher, far greater importance on the movie star than the mother, far greater importance on the man who makes a lot of money than the faithful father who is a model dad and husband.

This is why motives must be very clear!  God has his payday, someday, and we must be willing to work and wait.  Paul addressed this issue when he wrote to the Colossians, saying, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Colossians 3:23-24).

Friend, we must see the whole issue in a larger perspective--that of the entire orchestra and realize that no matter how large or small your part, it is important.  You must believe that, and the only way you can hold on to that truth is, at times, to tell your emotions where to get off.

For me, the ageless principles of Scripture help me to keep it in perspective.  When you are tempted to quit, listen carefully, and you will hear the still voice of God asking, "Where's the piccolo?"

Resource reading: Colossians 3:1-17

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/the-one-reason-why-you-shouldnt-quit/

ABS-CBN workers, backers ready caravan to House to press for new franchise

ABS-CBN employees and supporters will troop to the House of Representatives early on Thursday (July 9) to press lawmakers to approve a new 25-year franchise for the broadcast giant which President Rodrigo Duterte once asked to shut down.

According to the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), the caravan would travel from ABS-CBN’s Esguerra Gate in Quezon City to the House’s Gate 1.  A program would be held around 10:30 a.m.

The caravan is one of several activities launched by ABS-CBN supporters since the network faced its biggest assault since it was shuttered by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the early days of martial law.

The National Telecommunications Commission had issued an order for the network to cease television and radio broadcasting on free and pay TV after Solicitor General Jose Calida sought to rescind the network’s franchise through a quo warranto case filed at the Supreme Court and which had been dismissed for being moot.

No schedule had been set for House members to vote on the bill granting a new franchise to ABS-CBN, which has sat in the lower chamber of Congress for months without action. It is uncertain still if the bill would pass the committee level.

The NTC issued the cease and desist order after the network’s franchise lapsed on May 4. This came after the NTC had given Congress leaders an assurance that ABS-CBN would be allowed to continue broadcasting while the lower chamber of Congress deliberated on the new franchise.

Calida, however, warned the NTC against giving ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate as it would be usurping Congress’ power to issue franchises.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios had said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s radio station dzMM that the order was issued because of “questions” on the validity of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which was the subject of Calida’s petition at the Supreme Court.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1304043/abs-cbn-employees-to-troop-to-house-on-thursday-amid-pending-franchise-issue

‘ABS-CBN successfully defends franchise bid’

Television giant ABS-CBN has successfully justified its bid for franchise renewal before the House of Representatives, proponents of the franchise renewal bill said yesterday.

They are optimistic that the broadcast empire could secure a fresh franchise from Congress.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun expressed belief that ABS-CBN won in the hearings and sufficiently rebutted allegations should their fellow lawmakers base their votes on merit.

The House joint committee on legislative franchises and good government, and public accountability should approve the franchise renewal after nearly two months of hearings, they said.

The lawmakers’ belief contradicted an earlier report that said the TV network is facing an uphill battle as the number of House members who want to approve or reject the franchise request outnumber those who favor the reopening of ABS-CBN.

The report said only 25 lawmakers would likely vote in favor of ABS-CBN.

As this developed, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano slammed what he branded as propaganda to blackmail Congress into deciding in favor of ABS-CBN.

Cayetano said some people he did not name are spreading rumors to influence the decision of the House committee.

He appealed to both supporters and critics of ABS-CBN “to continue to advocate, but never to engage in black propaganda and fake news.”

Conscience vote

“Speaker Cayetano said he would allow a conscience vote on the ABS-CBN franchise. I hope he will deliver on that. If it’s a conscience vote, ABS-CBN wins. If it’s not, the opposite happens,” Atienza said.

Lagman agreed with Atienza and forecast an 8-0 victory for the network as he cited eight issues tackled during the hearings.

These issues included the citizenship of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez III, issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) of ABS-CBN Holdings to foreign nationals, reacquisition of the Lopez family after the EDSA Revolution in 1986, 50-year constitutional limit on franchises, digital migration, alleged labor malpractices, various tax issues and biased reporting.

Fortun shared Lagman’s opinion and reiterated Cayetano’s call for committee members to vote according to their conscience.

“If committee members vote according to conscience, ABS-CBN franchise should be renewed,” Fortun said.

Atienza and Fortun scored their colleagues for raising personal grudges against the network during last Monday’s hearing.

Fortun warned of repercussions on the demands of several lawmakers on the manner of news reporting by the network.

He said there’s no evidence presented during the hearing showing ABS-CBN engaged in biased reporting and election meddling as alleged by its critics.

The panel is to sum up the hearings today and set the schedule of voting on whether to approve the franchise bills or not.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Nancy Binay said public officials have no business dictating the editorial content of news organizations.

They said public officials should not be sensitive to criticisms and unfavorable reports of the media.

The senators said they themselves and their families had suffered from the negative and  erroneous news reports, but they neither meddled nor called for the shutdown of erring media organizations. Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/07/09/2026670/abs-cbn-successfully-defends-franchise-bid

If 71 solons choose to remain undecided, ABS-CBN will win 10 in favor, 8 against

If 71 congressmen choose to remain undecided on the legislative franchise application of ABS-CBN when voting on the issue takes place on Thursday, July 9, the giant network will win 10 in favor and eight against in order to get back on the air.

This was gathered as several informed sources disclosed that lobby for or against the proposed franchise bills were reported to go on high gear on the eve of the expected voting day.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano denied that House members and religious groups have been actively campaigning to influence the decision of voters.

“It is completely false and is an unproductive exercise in trying to manipulate the vote to favor a particular decision,” said Cayetano as he assailed the alleged black propaganda and fake news on the issues that have been circulating in the social media.

Of the 89 members of the House of Representatives who are qualified to vote on the 11 bills seeking to grant ABS-CBN another 25 year congressional franchise, only 18 may have already reached a decision on the issue.

After conducting 12 hearings, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises is scheduled to present on Thursday afternoon summations for and against the bills and may immediately vote on the bills.

There are 46 regular members of the House panel chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez.  All are qualified voters.

On the other hand, 22 deputy speakers and 21 leaders of the majority and the minority blocs, including Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, are also allowed to vote as ex officio members of the House panel.

Of the 89 qualified voters, 74 have not actively participated in the interpellation conducted on ABS-CBN executives and their lawyers.   Thus, these congresspersons will be the targets of intense lobby.

Those who did, at least 18 of them, have given away clues of their position on the issue.

Based on their line of questioning and statements during the hearing, the following will strongly back ABS-CBN’s return:  Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Zarate and Reps. Gabriel Bordado, Alfredo Garbin, Micaela Violago and Sol Aragones-Sampelo.

Authors of the pending bills are also going affirmative.  They are: Deputy Speakers Loren Legarda, Aurelio Gonzales, Rosemarie Arenas, Johnny Ty-Pimentel and Vilma Santos-Recto.

As shown by their demeanor during the hearings, fierce critics who are expected to thumb down the franchise measures are: Deputy Speakers Rodante Marcoleta and Dan Fernandez; Deputy Majority Leader Crispin Remulla and Reps. Claudine Bautista and Abraham Tolentino, committee vice chairman.

Minority Leader and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante had raised moral issues on various ABS-CBN telenovelas, thus, may reject the franchise extension proposal. 

Although he did not participate in the hearings jointly conducted by the House Committee on Good Government and on Legislative Franchises, Deputy Speaker and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte authored a resolution calling for a good government probe against ABS-CBN’s alleged violations of provisions of its previous legislative franchise.

Cayetano, on the other hand, also harbored a grudge against the network that had smarted accusations of political bias.  

“We have heard the Speaker talk about the issue on the alleged media bias and political meddling by ABS-CBN many times and how it happened during the 2016 elections especially because he was the running mate of President Duterte,” said Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy Alvarado, chairman of the good government panel.  

https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/08/if-71-solons-choose-to-remain-undecided-abs-cbn-will-win-10-in-favor-8-against/