Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Bagong franchise para sa ABS-CBN hirit ng ilang senador
Sa unang araw ng pagbubukas ng ilang opisina sa Kongreso ngayong taon, naghain agad si Senate President Vicente Sotto III ng panukala para gawaran ng bagong prangkisa ang ABS-CBN.
Ayon kay Sotto, dahil sa pagpapalit sa liderato ng Kamara, maaaring magbago na rin ang naunang pasya ng komite sa Kamara na pumatay sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN.
Napapansin din kasi niya na puro anime ang palabas sa ibang istasyon.
Naghayag na rin ang 13 senador na nais maging co-author ng panukala ni Sotto.
Ang Senate committee on public services na pinamumunuan ni Sen. Grace Poe, sinabing bibigyan aniya ng prayoridad ang pagtalakay sa panukala kapag na-refer na sa kanila ang hakbang.
"Given the crippling effects of the ABS-CBN shutdown and the need for more news outlets with the widest reach during the raging pandemic, the issue will be given utmost priority as soon as it is referred to the committee on public service. However, since the Constitution requires that bills of such nature originate from the House, it will most likely be referred to rules until the House grants the franchise," ani Poe.
Nang malaman ang paghahain ni Sotto, si Deputy Speaker at Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto ay naghayag din ng kahandaang i-refile ang panukala.
"Yes, I am refiling the bill seeking for the renewal for another 25 years of the ABS-CBN franchise. I filed it the last time and I continue to believe that it is the right thing to do," sabi ni Santos-Recto.
Para naman kay Deputy Speaker at Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, nararapat lang na ituloy ang pagtalakay ng Kamara sa paggawad ng prangkisa ng ABS-CBN.
Kaya balak niyang kausapin si Speaker Lord Allan Velasco at maghain ng motion for reconsideration upang muling matalakay ang usapin ng prangkisa ng Kapamilya network. – Ulat ni Zandro Ochona, ABS-CBN News
13 senators back Sotto's bill seeking fresh 25-year franchise for ABS-CBN
At least 13 senators have backed Senate President Vicente Sotto III's bill seeking to give ABS-CBN a new 25-year franchise after a House panel refused to renew the broadcast giant's license to operate last year.
The following senators have signed as co-authors of Sotto's bill: Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Manuel Lapid, Emmanuel Pacquiao, Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan.
The franchise of ABS-CBN, once the Philippines' largest broadcast network, needs to be revived to deliver information to Filipinos in far-flung areas, Binay said in a statement.
"I share my colleagues position in the Senate to support ABS-CBN's franchise renewal dahil higit na kailangan ngayon ng taumbayan ang totoo at tamang balita sa gitna ng mga isyu ng pandemya at pagbabakuna," she said.
"Sad to say, government and other networks fell short in bridging the information gap," she said.
More people could have been saved during recent typhoons if ABS-CBN and its regional stations were still on air as they could have been "well-informed about the heavy rains and typhoons," she said.
"Higit sa mga palabas na anime, we need a strong voice that can reach even the farthest household with news and information that matter," she said.
Gordon said he is backing the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise to ensure that freedom of the press is upheld in the Philippines.
"I'd rather have freedom of the media rather than have no freedom of the media," Gordon said in an online press conference.
"It leaves a bad taste in the mouth when you close a station... Sacrosant 'yung media but that is not an excuse to abuse," he said.
Some 70 House members earlier voted against the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise citing the network's alleged failure to settle billions in taxes and the dual citizenship of its former chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez.
Government regulators and other officials have repeatedly cleared ABS-CBN over allegations of tax fraud, violations of foreign ownership restrictions in mass media, among other legal issues.
Former actress and now Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto earlier said that she would file a counterpart measure in the House of Representatives.
Under the law, all local, spending and franchise bills must first be approved on final reading in the House of Representatives before the Senate can tackle it in plenary.
Palace: Fresh push for ABS-CBN franchise is 'sole prerogative' of Congress
The fate of a fresh bill seeking to grant ABS-CBN Corp a broadcast franchise is "a sole constitutional prerogative of Congress," Malacañang said on Tuesday, nearly half a year after a House panel dominated by President Rodrigo Duterte's allies rejected the network's license application.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday filed the bill that sought a 25-year license for the country's erstwhile largest broadcaster, saying "TV stations have been replacing their news programs with animes."
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said his guess is that the bill "will pass only with Palace’s support."
"I beg to differ," Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque said of Recto's comment.
"That is a sole constitutional prerogative of Congress which must originate from the House of Representatives," he told reporters in an online briefing.
Sotto had said "ABS-CBN's wide reach to Filipinos, alongside with the undeniable advantages of broadcast media relative to mass communication, definitely call for the immediate renewal of the network's franchise."
Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto said she would file a counterpart bill to bring back ABS-CBN to free television.
"We need to start rebuilding our economy," Santos-Recto said in a statement. "Through this bill, we will be creating jobs (so many people do not have jobs today) and help promote healthy competition among the networks."
Duterte in December 2019 said he would see to it that ABS-CBN was "out" and from early in his term had accused it of failing to air his 2016 election ads. Despite this, his aides had sought to distance the President from the rejection of ABS-CBN's franchise application.
ABS-CBN, which is owned by the Lopez family, has broadcast continuously since 1953 except between 1972 and 1986 when it was seized by dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
In May last year, the network was forced to halt its TV and radio broadcast operations on orders of the National Telecommunications Commission following the expiration of its previous license.
Two months later, the House panel voted to deny its new franchise application despite government regulators and other officials clearing ABS-CBN of alleged tax fraud and violations of foreign ownership restrictions in mass media, among other legal issues.
Duterte has a history of clashing with media outlets critical of his policies, including his controversial drug war that has killed thousands of people.
In the months since losing its free-to-air permit, ABS-CBN has kept showing many of its popular news and entertainment programs on cable TV and online.
But much of the advertising revenue it used to rake in has been wiped out, forcing the broadcaster to retrench thousands of its workers.
In October, ABS-CBN said some of its entertainment shows and movies would be seen on the A2Z channel 11, the newly rebranded channel under Zoe Broadcasting Network, through a blocktime and joint venture arrangement.
The shutdown of ABS-CBN is seen by various sectors as curtailment of the people's right to information, as well as of press freedom. -- With a report from Agence France-Presse
Duterte OKs Alternative Learning System Act
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a law that institutionalizes the alternative learning system (ALS), which provides free education to those out of school.
"The State shall provide out-of-school children in special cases and adults with opportunities to improve their knowledge, values, life skills, and readiness for higher education, work or self-employment through a system of non-formal or indigenous education," said the President.
The Alternative Learning System Act shall achieve the following objectives, among others, he said.
Hire, capacitate, and deploy ALS teachers, implementors and facilitators especially to "far-flung, unserved, underserved, conflict-afflicted communities, and communities in emergency situations, improve access to education and other learning opportunities and raise the level of literacy.
There were 359,862 learners enrolled in the ALS system in August, according to Department of Education data.
In 2016, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said she would prioritize the expansion of ALS to provide equal opportunities for those who will not be covered by the K to 12 program.
"Right now, may ALS tayo but it is not funded enough. Maliit lang siyang program. Dapat palakihin iyan para sa maiiwan," Briones said.
(We have an ALS but it is not funded enough. It is just a small program. It should be expanded for those who are left behind.)
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/05/21/duterte-oks-alternative-learning-system-act
'Upstanding, professional crew:' Philippine Airlines mourns flight attendant Christine Dacera
The Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday joined calls for justice as it mourned the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.
“PAL express mourns the tragic death of Christine Angela Dacera last January 1 during New Year revelry in Makati City. She was an upstanding and professional PAL Express crew member who will be sorely missed by her colleagues and friends,” PAL said in a statement.
PAL said it was also extending support to Dacera’s family.
“We are extending support to the flight attendant's family at this most difficult time. Our desire is for the truth to come out in the interest of justice,” it added.
Dacera, 23, was found unconscious in the bathtub of a Makati City hotel after celebrating the New Year. She was rushed to Makati Medical Center but was declared dead-on-arrival.
Dacera's family, in a separate interview, showed ABS-CBN News photos of the flight attendant's wounds and bruises. Police meanwhile said that based on initial autopsy reports, there were indications Dacera was sexually abused.
At least 10 suspects could be charged with rape and homicide, police added.
Duterte signs law to fast-track permits, licenses
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a law that gives him special powers to fast-track the issuance of permits, licenses and certifications in times of national emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Republic Act 11571 allows the President during national emergencies to "accelerate and streamline regulatory processes," and "suspend or waive the requirements" for permits, licenses and certifications or authorizations.
No specific industry will be favored over others through this law, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco earlier said.
"It applies to all businesses…Not a specific industry," Velasco told ANC"s Headstart in October. "It just gives the President power to fast track issuance of permits and licenses for businesses who are applying for them."
In the interview, Velasco was also asked about his relationship with tycoons Ramon Ang and Enrique Razon.
Ang, 8th richest tycoon according to a Forbes list this year, was Velasco's wedding sponsor. Velasco also revealed that he recently had a "friendly conversation" with Razon, a shipping magnate whose fortune landed him in the 3rd spot in the same list.
Velasco said he is friends with other tycoons, as well.
Asked if these ties are important in the landscape of the House, Velasco said: "Yes, definitely mainly because I would ask their guidance in terms of where we’re going to push the country economically."
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/05/21/duterte-signs-law-to-fast-track-permits-licenses
Duterte approves 'Doktor Para sa Bayan' medical scholarship law
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a law that creates a scholarship and return service program for medical students, according to a document released on Tuesday, as the Philippines continued to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The "Doktor Para sa Bayan Act" will help "deserving" students pursue medical education and training. They will "eventually render services in government hospitals in their hometown or in any municipality in their home province or in any underserved municipality," said the President.
"Qualified applicants from municipalities without government physicians shall be prioritized in the allocation of scholarship slots to ensure the assignment of at least one doctor for every municipality in the country," Duterte ordered.
The medical scholarship and return service program in state universities and colleges or partner private higher education institutions shall cover the following, the President said.
Free tuition and other school fees, allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment, clothing or uniform allowance, allowance for dormitory or boarding house accomodation, transportation allowance, internship fees, medical board review fees, licensure fees, annual medical insurance, other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living expenses told reporters in an online briefing.
The law will address the shortage of doctors in the country, a matter that the coronavirus pandemic brought to light, Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education earlier said.
There are currently 207 municipalities in the country without physicians, and this was highlighted when about 55 to 60 percent of those who died from COVID-19 did not even reach hospitals, he said.
The country lacks around 79,000 doctors, said Villanueva.
"We’re excited about this and we are looking at bridging the gap of the doctors that we need in the country," he told ANC's Headstart.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/05/21/duterte-approves-doktor-para-sa-bayan-medical-scholarship-law