Winter Wonderland at Marco Polo Davao

Top-notch five-star hotel Marco Polo Davao welcomed the new year with a Winter Wonderland-themed party at the hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

Led by the hardworking Marco Polo Davao general manager Colin Healy and ultra-efficient director of sales and marketing Pearl Peralta-Maclang, guests feasted over culinary highlights prepared by the hotel’s skilled restaurants, bars and events (RB&E) team led by executive chef Alex Destriza and RB&E manager Rene Gargallo.

Some of the crowd favorites were served at Café Marco and Lotus Court. “We are looking forward to a clear 20-20 vision for the coming year,” Colin Healy said. “Our team is confident that Marco Polo Davao’s brand of service will still rise among our competitors and most importantly to all challenges that we will face in the coming months. This party is not just to welcome a new year but to celebrate with people who have been with us for the last 21 years and counting.”

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https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/modern-living/2020/01/25/1987458/winter-wonderland-marco-polo-davao

Ika-9 anibersaryo ng pagpaslang kay Dok Gerry Ortega, ginunita

PUERTO PRINCESA - Siyam na taon na mula nang paslangin sa isang ukay-ukay sa Puerto Princesa ang broadcaster at environmentalist na si Dok Gerry Ortega, patuloy pa rin na lumalaban ang asawa, mga anak, at mga kaibigan niya para makamit ang hustisya.

Nitong Biyernes, nag-alay ng panalangin ang pamilya para sa dating environmentalist. Ayon sa asawa ni Gerry na si Patty Ortega, nanalangin sila at patuloy na kumakapit para sa kapayapaan ng kaluluwa ng brodkaster.

Lalo rin silang nabuhayan ng loob dahil sa Maguindanao massacre na nabigyan din ng hustisya matapos ang sampung taon.

"Nabuhayan tayo nung nakikita natin kung anong nangyayari sa Maguindanao nung nagkaroon ng kahit papano ng liwanag, and 'yun pa rin ang pagdadasal natin ang justice, at the same time ang kaluluwa ng mga yumao," ani Patty.

Kaya humihiling din sila ng dasal at para suportahan pa rin ang kanilang laban.

"Tingin ko mas importante naman talaga yung prayers lang eh kasi nandun na siya eh, sa kabilang buhay, so, mas importante sa kaniya yung pagdadasal."

Enero 24, 2011 nang paslangin si Gerry. Si Mario Reyes at ang kanyang kapatid na si Joel Reyes na dating gobernador ng Palawan ang itinuturong mastermind sa krimen.

Nahuli ang gunman na si Marlon Recamata at ang nagsilbing look-out na si Dennis Aranas. Sumuko naman si Rodolfo "Bumar" Edra Jr na dating close-in aide ni dating Marinduque Governor Jose Carrion, na kaibigan naman nila Reyes.

Si Bumar din umano ang bumuo ng hit team at nagturo kay Reyes na mastermind. Sumuko din si Armando Noel na nagsilbi raw na recruiter, at si Arwin Arandia na unang kinontrata ni Bumara para patayin si Dok Gerry.

Sa loob ng 9 na taon, patuloy na gumulong ang kaso. Sinampahan ng kaso ng pamilya Ortega ang magkapatid na Reyes at iba pang itinuturong sangkot.

Dinismiss ng unang panel ng Department of Justice (DOJ) ang kaso dahil sa kakulangan ng ebidensya. Kinuwestyon ng kampo ng mga Ortega ang findings ng unang DOJ panel kaya bumuo ng ikalawang panel ng DOJ para ituloy ang imbestigasyon sa kaso hanggang sa nakitaan ng probable cause para kasuhan ang mga Reyes.

Naglabas naman ng warrant of arrest ang RTC branch 52 laban sa mga Reyes pero nakalabas na sila ng bansa.

Pero Setyembre 2015 nang naaresto ang magkapatid sa Thailand at dinala pabalik ng Pilipinas.

Ikinulong si Joel sa Puerto Princesa City Jail habang nakapagpiyansa naman si Mario. Habang nasa kulungan ay hinatulang guilty din sa kasong graft and corrupt practices ang dating gobernador.

Enero 2018 nang pinalaya si Reyes matapos i-dismiss ng Court of Appeals (CA) ang kaso nito dahil wala raw mabigat na ebidensya laban sa kaniya maliban sa statement ni Bumar.

Pero makalipas ang ilang linggo mula nang lumaya, ipinaaresto ng Ombudsman si Reyes dahil naman sa maanomalyang renewal ng small-scale mining permit sa Palawan. Kusa namang sumuko ito.

Nobyembre 2019, binaliktad ng CA ang naunang desisyon nito na nagpalaya kay Reyes kaya ipinaaresto itong muli para ituloy ang pagdinig sa kaso kaugnay ng pagpatay kay dok Gerry.

Ngayong taon nakatakdang ituloy ang paglilitis sa kaso at inaasahan na sa pagkakataong ito ay makakamit na ang hustisya at mahahatulan na ang tunay na mastermind sa pagpatay kay Dok Gerry.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/24/20/ika-9-anibersaryo-ng-pagpaslang-kay-dok-gerry-ortega-ginunita

Congress urged to decide on ABS-CBN franchise renewal bills on merits

Members of various media groups hold a candle-lighting activity in front of ABS-CBN Corp. on Friday as they called on Congress to tackle the broadcast network's franchise renewal applications. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said on January 22, 2020 that the House of Representatives has enough time to tackle the various franchise applications. ABS-CBN's franchise expires at the end of March this year. Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News

Journalists on Friday gathered in front of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City to drum up public support behind a petition urging Congress to extend the largest entertainment and media conglomerate’s franchise, which President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to block.

An online petition launched last week has gathered more than 150,000 signatures, said Nonoy Espina, whose National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is leading a weekly “Black Friday” protest against the administration’s pressure on ABS-CBN.

The group expects more signatures to come in as the March 31, 2020 deadline for the franchise renewal nears.

“I think there will be a snowball effect because people really care,” Espina said.

But the decision on whether to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise for another 25 years will ultimately depend on Congress and the president, who has repeatedly threatened to shut down the network for failing to air a political ad in the 2016 elections, among other issues.

Espina urged congressmen to “study the bills on their merits and then decide.”

“Do not decide on the whims of one man even if that man is the president,” he said.

At least 8 bills for ABS-CBN's continued broadcast operation have been pending before the House committee on legislative franchises.

Journalists from different news outlets lit candles and signed the NUJP-led petition outside the ABS-CBN compound.

Espina took the opportunity to also gather support for slain broadcaster Gerry Ortega, who was gunned down in Palawan 9 years ago.

Last month, the Court of Appeals reversed a previous ruling and revived the murder case against the alleged mastermind, former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel Reyes.

“Hopefully, mapagulong na ang katarungan dito at sana makamtan na ni Doc Gerry and matagal nang inaantay nating katarungan,” Espina said.

Last Wednesday, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House has enough time to consider not only ABS-CBN franchise renewal bills but other franchise applications.

He said he expects hearings on as many as 50 franchise applications to begin next month.

“I’ll just reiterate that we have committed to the Filipino people that we will have fair hearings, that we will hear the issues and also hear the replies, and we cannot promise you any decision until we finish the hearings, to be fair with everyone," he said.

When pressed by reporters if there is enough time to decide on the franchise bills considering Congress will go on its summer recess by March 11, Cayetano said: “We have enough time. Kung 'yung budget na P4.1 trillion natapos natin ng isang buwan, 'yun pa kayang franchise na siguro, sobra 'yung issues, 2-3 hearings sobrang exhaustive na 'yun.”

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/24/20/congress-urged-to-decide-on-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-bills-on-merits

'Black Friday' candle-lighting

Members of various media groups hold a candle-lighting activity in front of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center on Friday as they called on Congress to tackle the broadcast network's franchise renewal applications. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said on January 22, 2020 that the House of Representatives has enough time to tackle the various franchise applications. ABS-CBN's franchise expires at the end of March this year.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/01/24/20/black-friday-candle-lighting

ABS-CBN: Will history repeat itself?

This is in connection with the Inquirer’s editorial titled “Smelly plan” (January 22, 2020).

Contrary to popular belief, President Duterte cannot shut down the entertainment and media giant ABS-CBN, whose broadcasting franchise will expire two months from now. Under Section 24, Article VI of the Constitution, private bills, among others, shall originate exclusively in the House of Representatives. Private bills are those that affect purely private interest (bills granting a franchise is one example).

The exclusivity of the prerogative of the House simply means that the House alone can initiate the passage of a private bill. This goes to say that if the House does not initiate one, then no private bill will be passed into law. But once the House has approved a private bill and passed it on to the Senate, the Senate may propose or concur with amendments. Hence, the fate of the thousands of workers who may lose their job upon ABS-CBN’s putative closure is in the hands of the 329 lawmakers (305 members of the House plus 24 members of the Senate).

Note that a bill becomes a law when 1) the President signs it; 2) the President vetoes it but the veto is overridden by two-thirds vote of all the members of each House; and 3) the President does not act upon the bill within 30 days after it was presented to him.

Needless to say, Mr. Duterte is under the executive department of the government. It is the President’s duty to make sure that the laws are faithfully executed. Pursuant to the principle of checks and balances, he cannot encroach upon the powers of the legislative department.

During the Marcos regime, ABS-CBN was closed down. Will history repeat itself? Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

LEONARD KRISTIAN MESA GELACIO, leonardkristianmesagelacio@gmail.com

https://opinion.inquirer.net/126848/abs-cbn-will-history-repeat-itself

Nothing to do with press freedom

By Salvador S. Panelo

The ABS-CBN Corporation’s 25-year franchise is set to end on 30 March 2020.

On several occasions the President has publicly castigated ABS-CBN for reneging on a contract entered between them by failing to air his campaign material during the 2016 presidential elections.

In a least two events, PRRD declared that he will make sure that the franchise will not be renewed as its term is about expire. Those public statements triggered speculations that the giant network’s days are numbered. It also gave his critics and the political opposition the weapon to lambaste the President for violating the freedom of the press.

In a move that could be mistaken as a parallel step to stop the radio and television company from operating, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) announced that it is preparing a petition for quo warranto against ABS-CBN under Rule 66 of the Rules of Court, which states that “(a)n action for the usurpation of a (xxx) franchise may be commenced by a verified petition brought in the name of Republic of the Philippines against (xxx) (a)n association which acts as a corporation within the Philippines without being legally incorporated or without lawful authority so to act.”

As a reaction, Cagayan de Oro, 2nd District, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez assailed the OSG for depriving Congress of its authority to grant a license to corporations. He filed House Bill 5705 to renew the Lopez-owned network’s franchise for another 25 years. In the Senate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson raised the specter of a “constitutional crisis” that he said could arise by reason of the filing of the quo warranto.

Both legislators are of course absolutely wrong on their theses. The power of Congress to grant franchise is not withheld nor removed by the filing of quo warranto by the OSG. The result of a successful quo warranto proceeding is to revoke a franchise already granted by Congress. Each exercise is not contradictory nor is it antagonistic. Under the law, a franchise granted by law can be revoked for certain violations.

To the credit of Senator Lacson, he has since retracted and apologized for his wrongful interpretation of the law, which erroneous reading is expected since he is not a lawyer.

With regard to the accusation that the Chief Executive is trying to muzzle the press by expressing his displeasure to the fraud committed by ABS-CBN against him by not airing his paid campaign commercial, it is misplaced. The public expression of outrage against a corporation committing estafa or swindling against his person is part of the freedom of speech, of which, like any other citizen, the President is entitled.

It will be Congress that will deliberate whether or not ABS-CBN’s franchise will be renewed. If the bill on it passes both houses of Congress, then it goes to the President for his signature. The Constitution grants him the power to sign the bill into law or to veto it, if in his evaluation, the same is unconstitutional. His power to approve or disapprove is not absolute however, as Congress by a two-thirds vote of its members can override his veto. Also if he fails to act on it 30 days from receipt of the enrolled bill, the latter passes into law.

The record of this President vis-a-vis his critics and detractors as well as those who vilify him and his family speaks for itself. He has not haled anybody to court by reason of the incessant libelous statements against him and his family. He does not exact vengeance against enemies.

Should ABS-CBN’s franchise not be renewed, it will be because it has violated legal conditions imposed by law. Its continued operation depends on its compliance with the law and not because the President is displeased with it. And certainly it has nothing to do with abridging the freedom of the press. He has never interfered with the work of Congress nor with the Supreme Court. When his appointees to the Cabinet failed to get the nod of the Commission on Appointments, there was nary a word of disgust from him. When the Supreme Court makes a ruling on any matter, he respects it. He always asserts the supremacy of the rule of law. He makes certain that due process is accorded every person, natural or juridical.

The conjectures that the President is using his power to persecute ABS-CBN for personal retribution are totally baseless and undeserved. It is simply out of character for the President to be petty.

He may sound tough and rude but he is never arbitrary nor frippery. On the campaign trail when he was running for President, he was invariably asked by reporters and voters, “What is your platform of government?” His standard response was swift and unblinking: “Just follow the law.” In the Cabinet meetings when he is confronted with a debated issue, he tells the Cabinet members, “Let the law take its course.”

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/01/24/nothing-to-do-with-press-freedom/

Rufus: Hearings on 11 ABS-CBN franchise bills must commence

By Ellson Quismorio

Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said it will be a “bad move” on the part of the House of Representatives to just ignore the pending bills for the renewal of broadcast giant ABS-CBN’s franchise.

“It cannot just be that it will just lapse, the ABS-CBN [franchise] would just lapse by inaction. That is really a bad move on the part of Committees not to hear bills filed by 11 congressmen,” said Rodriguez, who since the start of the year has become the most vocal advocate for the renewal of the TV and radio network’s operating franchise.

“It’s the right of congressmen to file bills, it’s our right that our bills would be heard,” the Mindanao lawmaker said.

ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30 this year, but the House really only has until March 11 to act on the pending measures since they will go on summer recess after that. The next session date would be May 4.

“There are no less than 11 bills here in Congress about the renewal of ABS-CBN. We have to hear the ABS-CBN, we have to hear the people, we have to hear the different stakeholders. As far as I’m concerned, the freedom of the press in this country should always be upheld,” Rodriguez said, referring to the network’s established news and public affairs programs.

“It is the duty of the Committee to hold a hearing. If the hearings will be done, it depends on the Committee to approve it or deny it. And therefore we can’t say at this time if it will be renewed or not because the Committee hasn’t met,” said the solon, who is chair of the Constitutional Amendments panel.

Responsibility to hear the franchise renewal bills falls on the Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Palawan 1st district Rep. Franz Alvarez. The panel earlier said it would soon schedule hearings on the ABS-CBN bills, and that its deliberations would be fair.

But it also reminded the TV-radio network that the grant of a franchise is a privilege given by Congress and not a matter of right on the part of the franchisee.

The perception is that President Duterte’s very public tirades against ABS-CBN has placed the Alvarez panel in a tough bind. It should be noted that the 300-member House is teeming with Duterte allies.

The Chief Executive’s disdain for ABS-CBN stemmed from its supposed failure to run his political advertisements during the 2016 presidential election campaign. The network also ran a political ad critical of him.

Rodriguez said he recently spoke with Alvarez regarding the scheduling of hearings. “He said he will consider that and confer with the Speaker…he is going to meet with his senior members of the Committee, the Vice Chairmen, and meet with the Speaker.”

“I believe Franz will be able to hold hearings soon because time is of the essence,” he said.

“So therefore we ask the Committee to hear it and let us decide. The majority will decide. Grant the ABS-CBN renewal or not. That’s what we want to have,” he added.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/23/rufus-hearings-on-11-abs-cbn-franchise-bills-must-commence/

Cayetano says House has 'enough time' to tackle ABS-CBN franchise bills

BATANGAS CITY - There is enough time for the House of Representatives to consider the various bills granting ABS-CBN Corp. a fresh 25-year franchise to operate its broadcast businesses, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said.

Speaking to the media at the sidelines of the House plenary session in Batangas City on Wednesday, Cayetano said he spoke to the chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises Rep. Franz Alvarez about the matter.

Cayetano expects hearings on as many as 50 franchise applications to begin next month. He said the House panel would begin with those with complete requirements.

“I talked to Chairman Chicoy and he’s recommending we start...there are about 40 to 50 franchise bills so first week of February daw, he will start and kung sino daw ang mga kumpleto ang (those with complete) requirements, he will start the hearings," Cayetano said.

He said the hearings might begin the "week after next week."

Cayetano reiterated his previous statement that the House will be fair in considering the franchise application. President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said he would oppose ABS-CBN's franchise renewal.

“I’ll just reiterate that we have committed to the Filipino people that we will have fair hearings, that we will hear the issues and also hear the replies, and we cannot promise you any decision until we finish the hearings, to be fair with everyone," he explained.

When pressed by reporters if there is enough time to decide on the franchise bills considering Congress will go on its summer recess by March 11, Cayetano said: “We have enough time. Kung 'yung budget na P4.1 trillion natapos natin ng isang buwan, 'yun pa kayang franchise na siguro, sobra 'yung issues, 2-3 hearings sobrang exhaustive na 'yun.”

(If the 2020 national budget that's P4.1 trillion we finished in one month, how much more the franchise where the issues we can cover in 2 to 3 hearings, that's already very exhaustive.)

On Tuesday, an author of one of the bills renewing the ABS-CBN franchise urged the House leadership to let the majority decide the fate of the company’s license to operate its radio and television business.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez told media that he spoke with Alvarez to schedule hearings on the renewal, stressing that there were only 21 session days left before Congress adjourns for its summer break.

ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise expires at the end of March 2020.

Rodriguez emphasized that it is the duty of the committee to hold the hearings so that the majority could rule on the fate of the franchise.

The House leadership has not acted on various bills renewing the franchise as the President has opposed it, even urging the owners of the company to just sell it. He has accused the network of biased reporting, not airing his 2016 campaign advertisements, among other issues.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/22/20/cayetano-says-house-has-enough-time-to-tackle-abs-cbn-franchise-bills

Tick-tock: There’s still ‘enough time’ for ABS-CBN franchise renewal – Cayetano

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines — With a little over two months before the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN expires, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday expressed optimism there is still “enough time” to tackle the issue.

“‘Yung budget na P4.1 trillion natapos natin ng isang buwan, ‘yun pa kayang franchise na siguro sobrang—‘yung issues two-three hearings sobrang exhaustive na nun,” Cayetano told reporters following the House session held in Batangas City.

(For the P4.1 trillion national budget, we were able to finish that in one month. What more with this franchise that maybe two to three hearings would be exhaustive already.)

Republic Act No. 3846 requires television and radio broadcasting companies to secure a franchise from the government before they are allowed to operate. It is Congress that will decide whether to extend the franchise to public utilities, such as the media.

ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30.

Cayetano said he has already talked to Palawan 1st Dist. Rep. Franz Alvarez, chair of the House committee on legislative franchises, who recommended that franchise bills be tackled on the first week of February.

“There are about 40 to 50 franchise bills so first week of February daw he will start and kung sino daw ang mga kumpleto ang (whichever has the complete) requirements can start the hearings,” Cayetano said.

Quo warranto petition

Cayetano said issues related to the reported quo warranto petition of state lawyers against ABS-CBN may affect the granting of the franchise if raised during hearings.

But Cayetano added: “Not all violations of the franchise is equivalent to not granting the franchise.”

“Parang sa high school ‘yan, iba yung kick out, iba yung suspended, iba ‘yung pagsasabihan ka lang,” Cayetano said.

(It’s like in high school, being kicked out is different from being suspended and receiving a warning.)

Cayetano also assured that the hearings will be “fair”.

“No one in Congress want a dictatorship. Bakit? Unang sinasara media siyempre mahirap rin kasi may social media. Pero kung hindi, pangalawa, unang sinasara rin Congress eh. ‘Yung dictatorship, one-man o one-woman rule, halos sabay sinasara ang Kongreso at ang media,” Cayetano said.

(No one in Congress wants a dictatorship. Why? First to be closed is media but it is hard given there is still social media. But if not, second, the first to be closed is Congress. Dictatorship is a one-man o one-woman rule. Congress and media are being shut almost at the same time.)

“So rest assured, iba-iba ang views pero lahat tayo ay (even if there are varying views but we are all) pro-democracy because no one wants to shut down the media nor shut down Congress, but that doesn’t mean na (that) automatic may mag-apply (when someone applies), ibibigay mo (you surely give it),” he added.

Duterte has repeatedly said that he would block the franchise renewal of the ABS-CBN due to supposed “violations” committed by the media giant.

At one point, Duterte even urged the Lopez family, the owner of the company, to just sell it off.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1218202/tick-tock-theres-still-enough-time-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-cayetano

PH’s first Ibis Styles hotel soon to rise in Cubao

Binibining Pilipinas 2019 titleholders join representatives from Araneta City, Accor, and Megawide Construction Corp. in the topping-off ceremony for Ibis Styles hotel.

The Philippines will soon welcome its first Ibis Styles hotel.

Araneta City on Monday held a topping-off ceremony for Ibis Styles hotel, a brand under the international hospitality company Accor, along General Roxas Avenue in Cubao.

Present at the event were representatives from Araneta City, Accor, and Megawide Construction Corp., as well as titleholders from last year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

The 30-storey Ibis Styles will house 300 rooms, twelve function rooms, an overhanging pool with a glass bottom, and an all-day, all-night restaurant and patisserie connected to the New Gateway mall.

Its interiors will feature designs based on historical events at the Araneta Coliseum – which is a stone’s throw away – such as the 1975 Thrilla in Manila and the Binibining Pilipinas pageants.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/21/20/phs-first-ibis-styles-hotel-soon-to-rise-in-cubao

House panel OKs DDR bill

The House Committee on Appropriations yesterday approved a bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience.

The House panel, chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, approved the funding provisions of the unnumbered substitute bill creating the DDR.

“Item No. 1 is very important and the call of the times, considering the eruption of Taal Volcano and aside from that, we have been visited by so many typhoons and earthquakes,” he said in his opening speech during the panel initial deliberation on the DDR bill.

Under the bill, the new department is tasked “to lead, organize, and manage the national effort to reduce disaster risk, prepare for, and respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate, and build forward better after the occurrence of disasters.”

Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the principal authors of the bill, moved for the approval of the DDR bill, which is a priority legislative measure of President Duterte.

Defensor presented the substitute bill before the Ungab panel and sought its immediate approval.

“The urgency to create a focal agency to be at the helm of the country’s disaster preparedness and management is imperative. We can no longer ignore the devastation caused by these disasters, especially on the impact on agriculture, economy, as well as as the lives of Filipinos. With our collective efforts, we can mitigate the consequences of these disasters and we can start with a cohesive government agencies specifically intended for disaster preparedness and reduction,” Defensor said.

He said the current fiscal year’s unexpended and unobligated appropriations of all agencies absorbed, transferred, and attached to the new department shall fund the initial implementation of the proposed act. (Charissa L. Atienza)

http://tempo.com.ph/2020/01/22/house-panel-oks-ddr-bill/

House to listen to Taal victims amid 'risks' in Batangas —Cayetano

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday assured those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas that the House of Representatives is ready to listen to their plight despite the danger they are getting themselves into in holding session in the province.

Cayetano made the remark in his speech during the opening of the House's out-of-town session at the Batangas City Convention Center.

"Love God above everything and everyone with all our hearts, spirit, and mind, and love others as we love ourselves. We are here to show Batangas, including Cavite and Laguna, that we love you as we love ourselves," Cayetano said.

"Yes, there is a risk of being here, but you are facing that risk every single day. So, what is one day for your National Congress, the House of the People, to be here with you to listen and to hear so that we may legislate effectively?" he added.

Cayetano himself announced that the House would hold their session in Batangas City in an act of solidarity with the residents whose lives and livelihood were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. This is even as Alert Level 4 is still raised over the volcano, signifying that a hazardous eruption remains a possibility.

"We want to go home having a clear vision of what needs to be done, not only in the area of response and relief, but also in the area of rehabilitation," Cayetano said.

"We will be hearing different representatives from evacuees, barangay captains, mayors today and babaunin po natin pauwi ang kanila pong mga bilin sa atin ngayong hapon," he added.

The move did not sit well with Senator Francis Pangilinan, a member of the opposition, who said he hopes the session will not get in the way of ongoing relief operations.

Pangilinan also hoped House members will not become victims themselves if ever Taal Volcano erupts while they were there.

“That's their business. I just hope they don't get in the way of disaster relief and operations and become victims as well should a hazardous eruption take place while they are there,” Pangilinan said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Among the speakers who shared with the lawmakers the situation and their experience during the aftermath of the Taal Volcano eruption were Brgy. Captain Joceline Bayanay of Alas-as, San Nicolas, Batangas, Mayor Daniel Reyes of Agoncillo town and Mayor Lester De Sagun of San Nicolas town.

The House also opened the sponsorship and debates on the measure seeking to create the Department of Disaster Resilience. —KBK, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/723137/house-to-listen-to-taal-victims-amid-risks-in-batangas-cayetano/story/

#NoToABSCBNShutdown: Celebrities petition for franchise renewal

Stakeholders of media giant ABS-CBN are now getting more vocal about the issue surrounding the renewal of the network’s legislative franchise, set to expire in just a little over two months.

If none of the bills extending ABS-CBN’s franchise for another 25 years is not passed and signed into law by March 30, the network’s broadcast services will cease operation.

Last week, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines started an on-ground and online signature campaign petitioning that Congress renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.

“[W]e continue to hope that you, the elected representatives of the people, can rise above your leader's (Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano) petty vindictiveness and strike a blow in defense of freedom of the press and of expression,” reads the petition made available online.

The media rights group estimates that between 10,000 to 11,000 workers are at risk of losing their jobs.

After the NUJP collectively gathers a million signatures from the on-ground signing, as well as the change.org petition, they will submit these to Congress for review.

The online petition has collected over 120,000 signatures as of writing, with some celebrities finally speaking out.

https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2020/01/22/1986645/notoabscbnshutdown-celebrities-petition-franchise-renewal

Potential ABS-CBN shutdown a loss for Filipino audiences and culture too, scholars note

Broadcast network ABS-CBN faces the possibility of having to shut down indefinitely if a bill to renew its franchise is not passed into law before March—a prospect that President Rodrigo Duterte has hinted at if not virtually guaranteed.

The Palace has insisted that franchise renewal is an issue that solely rests with the legislative branch, where the PDP-Laban-led administration has overwhelming numbers, while media watchdogs and journalists' groups have called the threat to let the franchise lapse a strike against press freedom.

The possibility of ABS-CBN shutting down puts thousands of jobs in peril, but Asian culture and media studies scholars noted that closing of one of the biggest media companies in the country will also impact Philippine culture and society.

TV amplifies voices of the poor

Global Digital Media associate professor Jonathan Ong, who teaches at the Department of Communication at University of Massachusetts Amherst, said that TV in the Philippines is more than just a source of news, information and entertainment but it is also an “institution that the Filipino poor would turn to in times of need and calamity.”

Ong has a doctorate in Sociology from the University of Cambridge and a master's degree in Politics and Communication from the London School of Economics. He is also the author of "The Poverty of Television: The Mediation of Suffering in Class-Divided Philippines", which was published in 2017.

“In my research in Filipino slum communities and their TV rituals, what stood out for me was the intimacy developed with television. TV is not just a coping mechanism but for the most desperate, they are real places to visit and line up for so they could tell their own stories in the game show, or request for charity assistance,” Ong told Philstar.com in an email.

TV networks in the Philippines reserve their noontime slot for variety shows that feature games and nationwide talent competitions.

'TV, movies shape us a people'

Asian culture scholar Laurence Castillo meanwhile pointed out that while TV and movies entertain, their stories “shape how we imagine, dream about and understand, the society, the nation and the world.”

“How we relate to the world beyond our living rooms is influenced by how we see this world on the TV or movies,” he added in an e-mail exchange with Philstar.com.

Castillo is a PhD candidate in Asian Studies at the University of Melbourne, and a literary and cultural studies professor at the University of the Philippine Los Baños.

Public awareness, disaster response

ABS-CBN runs programs from early morning until late at night and airs talk shows, variety shows, local and dubbed foreign teleseryes—some of which have become household names—and even situational comedies.

Its news and public affairs programs on free TV include periodic news updates throughout the day and primetime newscasts. It also hosts documentaries.

The ABS-CBN News Channel, ANC, runs news and current affairs shows round the clock.

Ong noted that through ABS-CBN’s Bantay Bata program, founded by the late Gina Lopez, helped “shaped public awareness about children’s rights,” while its Sagip Kapamilya program serves as a channel for disaster response that has, at times, arrived in disaster zones ahead of government relief. 

Bantay Bata is the country’s first media-based helpline for children’s welfare that continues to protect disadvantaged and at-risk children.

Castillo also said that ABS-CBN “is an influential force in shaping popular tastes, developing new forms of storytelling, and defining the ever evolving landscape of mass culture.”

In the 1990s, ABS-CBN produced "Sineswekla" to teach Science to kids, "Bayani" to introduce Philippine history and our country’s heroes, "Math Tinik" for math, "Pahina" for Philippine literature and "Hiraya Manawari" for teaching kids life lessons.

ABS-CBN now airs "Wansapanataym", which takes a leaf from "Hiraya Manawari".

Conduit for culture exchanges

In the 2010s, ABS-CBN saw the export of its Philippine-made dramas like "Pangako Sa’yo", "On the Wings of Love", "Be Careful with my Heart" and "Wildflower".

With this, the television giant “has likewise become a conduit for the transnational circulation and exchange of popular cultures,” Castillo pointed out.

Over the years, TV imported animated series to teleseryes—from Mexico to the now popular Korean dramas—and has “introduced local TV audiences to cultural works from other countries.”

He adds: “TV series produced by the station have also been exported, introducing Philippine pop culture to audiences in other countries.”

In September 2019, ABS-CBN announced that its 2017 primetime drama “Wildflower,” a revenge-themed drama, aired on French channel Outre-mer la 1ère.

Afternoon drama and cult favorite “Kadenang Ginto” has also announced that it has just been remade for Indonesia audiences.

'Shrinking spaces for creative freedom'

Castillo noted that ABS-CBN’s “creative forms have gone to the extent of communicating, even commenting on, socio-political issues.”

He stressed that a shutdown of ABS-CBN’s broadcast unit "[would mean] the loss of one influential platform for popular cultural dissemination, and more disturbingly the loss of employment for thousands...in the creative industries.”

"It sends a chilling message about the ever shrinking spaces for creative freedom and artistic practice in the political context,” Castillo added.

In the 1990s, ABS-CBN had post-martial law era sitcom "Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata" that poked fun at a corrupt congressman and his rich family, and told the story of the family of a man juggling odd jobs to get by.

Comedy show "Goin’ Bulilit" had children performing in sketches that offered social commentary and political satire before it went off the air after 14 years,

Gothic turned paranormal drama “The Killer Bride” has also created a massive following on social media as users share clips of the show's characters throwing lines that border on commentary on national issues.

These include controversies on Sen. Imee Marcos’ educational background, the Dengvaxia controversy, and falling rice prices that have affected Filipino farmers.

Ong said that a possible shutdown of ABS-CBN would mean loss of disaster responders and full-scale charity operations such as Bantay Bata and Sagip Kapamilya.

“Historically, Philippine TV acts as the government in the context of a weak state unable to respond to the needs of its poor constituents,” he said.

“Philippine TV is the ‘big man’ patron of the poor. Under Duterte’s strongman government, other ‘big men’ patrons would pose a threat,” Ong added.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has launched a signature campaign to call for Congress to renew the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/01/22/1986873/potential-abs-cbn-shutdown-loss-filipino-audiences-and-culture-too-scholars-note

Celebrities, supporters join campaign for ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Celebrities, fans, and supporters have joined a signature campaign urging Congress to renew the broadcasting franchise of television network ABS-CBN.

Among those who signed for the 1 million signature petition launched by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) via petition site Change.org are celebrities Lea Salonga, Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, and Ogie Alcasid.

The petition has garnered 128,275 signatures as of posting. An on-ground signature campaign is also making rounds.

In a Twitter post, Salonga said she has "personal and professional reasons" for supporting the cause, while It's Showtime! host Curtis fear that a franchise non-renewal means many ABS-CBN employees will lose their jobs.

NUJP said the signature campaign is a challenge to Congress to prove its independence by approving the media network's franchise extension and leaving its fate to President Rodrigo Duterte, who has repeatedly threatened to block the renewal.

"We're challenging Congress not to be a rubber stamp because they shouldn't be a rubber stamp," NUJP chairman Nonoy Espina said.

"Given the time we have, we need to ramp it up but we do hope that we could reach 1 million," he added.

Lawmakers have yet to act on bills seeking another 25-year franchise for the network with only 23 regular session days left until its expiry.

Espina explained that the threats against ABS-CBN are also threats to press freedom.

"I hope the people understand that when we say freedom of the press, it's not just about the freedom of the media. It's about the freedom of the people to receive vital information so they can decide on our collective future," he said.

"I think the issue is resounding to people," he added.

A man signs a petition after a protest by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines calling for Congress to extend ABS-CBN Corp.’s franchise which is set to expire at the end of March this year, Jan. 17, 2019. Alec Corpuz, ABS-CBN News

Actress Liza Soberano earlier appealed to President Duterte earlier this month to reconsider his stand on the media giant's franchise renewal.

Duterte last Dec. 30 said owners of ABS-CBN should just sell the network.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/21/20/celebrities-supporters-join-campaign-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal

Let congressmen decide on fate of ABS-CBN franchise, Rodriguez tells Calida

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has appealed to Solicitor General Jose Calida to let congressmen decide over the fate of the franchise renewal of broadcast giant ABS-CBN amid its expiration by the end of March.

Rodriguez’s remarks came after Calida is reportedly planning to file a quo warranto case before the Supreme Court to question the return of the Kapamilya network to Lopez family in 1986.

Rodriguez stressed that Calida “should give a chance to Congress,”since the legislative body “has the exclusive authority to grant franchises or extend them.”

“There should no other body that should try to get this power away from Congress,” he said.

The former dean of San Sebastian College of Law reminded Calida that rather than questioning the ownership of ABS-CBN before the high tribunal, he should just allow members of the House committee on legislative franchises and the House of Representatives as a whole to dictate the fate of the Kapamilya network rather than creating a shortcut that would only further project the current administration as enemy of the free press.

“Let us decide, the majority will decide—grant the ABS-CBN renewal,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, one of the nine lawmakers who recently filed similar legislations to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-years legislative franchise case also reminded Committee of legislative franchise chair and Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez that it would be bad if the broadcast giant’s franchise would lapse by March just because of inaction on his part.

“Please call these bills for hearing because it is the right of congressmen to file bills. It is our right that our bills should be heard,” Rodriguez stressed.

“It cannot just, it would just lapse because of inaction? That would be really a bad move on the part of the committees to be able not to hear the bills filed by 11 congressmen,” he added.

Rodriguez said “time is of the essence” right now since there are only 21 sessions days remaining before Congress’ adjournment on March 11.

ABS-CBN needs to secure the passage of their congressional franchise on or before March 30, 2020—the expiration date set by its current franchise under Republic Act No. 7966.

https://politics.com.ph/let-congressmen-decide-on-fate-of-abs-cbn-franchise-rodriguez-tells-calida/

Media groups mount drive to ‘save’ ABS-CBN from attacks, shutdown

MEDIA groups have cried foul against what they call the Duterte administration’s “Marcosian game plan” to derail the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Corp., calling it a blatant attack to suppress press freedom marred with “putrid motives.”

The pushback was led by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), which launched an online signature campaign to support the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. It aims to gather at least 5 million signatures for the campaign.

ABS-CBN is required under the law to secure a congressional franchise as a television network. Duterte has been attacking the network since 2016, claiming that it is biased and unfair. He also cited tax cases, which have since been cleared out, as his reason for blocking the franchise of the network.

Congress has yet to deliberate on the franchise bill. The existing franchise of ABS-CBN is set to expire on March 30.

In a statement, AlterMidya, a coalition of independent media entities, said President Duterte is weaponizing his power and influence in the legislature by publicly admitting that he will block the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN, one of the two largest networks in the Philippines.

“The heightened threats by the Duterte administration to derail ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal speak volumes of how the President is following the Marcosian game plan to the letter. How can the nation forget how in the early years of the Marcos dictatorship, the regime confiscated TV and radio stations owned by the Lopezes and transferred the control to his cronies?” the statement read.

AlterMidya added that Duterte’s move is textbook “Marcosian,” as he earlier suggested that the Lopezes simply sell the network to another entity to save it.

“Duterte is brazenly picking instructions from that same playbook, even suggesting that the owners of ABS-CBN just sell the network, increasing suspicions that he wants the ownership of one of the biggest media networks in the country to go to one of his cronies,” the statement read.

The group also scored the President for allegedly using “a plethora of legal tools” through the Office of the Solicitor General, which is reportedly using a “quo warranto petition” to cancel the existing franchise of ABS-CBN.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/01/21/media-groups-mount-drive-to-save-abs-cbn-from-attacks-shutdown/

Tackle ABS-CBN franchise bill, House urged

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/

Lea Salonga, Anne Curtis urge followers to sign petition for ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Other stars also urge followers to sign the petition

Lea Salonga and Anne Curtis called on their followers to sign a petition for the renewal of media giant ABS-CBN's franchise, which is set to expire on March 30, 2020.

The National Union of Journalists launched a signature campaign last week, as the House prepares to finally tackle the network's franchise renewal.

On Twitter, Lea said: "Yes, I have personal and professional reasons for this one. Not gonna lie." Lea is one of the coaches of the Voice of the Philippines, which will return for its teen edition this year.

Anne, who is currently on leave from It's Showtime because of her pregnancy, tweeted: "Please sign the petition. So many lives will be affected by the jobs that will be lost."

Other stars such as Marvin Agustin, Vice Ganda, Ogie Alcasid, Karla Estrada, and Melai Cantiveros also urged followers to sign the petition.

Love and Support for the network that is our FAMILY.
Sign and Share. https://t.co/WO7inSTK4S

— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) January 20, 2020

WE WILL NOT LOSE OUR FAMILY.

ABS-CBN: One million for ABS-CBN's franchise - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/i0nr7Xnbgn via @ChangePilipinas

— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) January 20, 2020

Praying for this one🙏🏻 #NoToABSCBNShutdown ABS-CBN: One million for ABS-CBN's franchise - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/rq5crSqIYn via @ChangePilipinas

— IG: @MarvinAgustin (@marvin_agustin) January 20, 2020

View this post on Instagram

Sign in na mga Kapamilya 👍

A post shared by Melai Cantiveros - Francisco (@mrandmrsfrancisco) on Jan 19, 2020 at 7:48pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Sign in na mga Kapamilya 👍

A post shared by Melai Cantiveros - Francisco (@mrandmrsfrancisco) on Jan 19, 2020 at 7:48pm PST

Some of the network's contract artists such as Liza Soberano and Sharon Cuneta earlier said they hope that President Rodrigo Duterte will reconsider his decision about not renewing the franchise.

Duterte has threatened to block the passage of a law that would grant the station a congressional franchise. Back in April 2017, he accused the network of "swindling" him because they allegedly did not air his political advertisements during the 2016 presidential elections.

In the Philippines, broadcast companies such as radio and television networks must obtain a franchise from Congress under Republic Act 3846.

The franchise bill needs approval by the House of Representatives before it is forwarded to the Senate. A version of the bill approved by both the House and the Senate will still require presidential approval.

https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/249767-lea-salonga-anne-curtis-calls-for-support-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-signs-petition

House to hold session in Batangas on Wednesday

The House of Representatives is set to hold its plenary session on Wednesday at the Batangas City Convention Center in a bid to listen “directly” to the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.

During his opening speech at the resumption of the session on Monday, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House leadership made the proposal since the Batangas City Sports Coliseum, which was turned into one of the biggest evacuation centers for the affected families, is beside the convention center.

“The proposal is that we move to become a Committee of the Whole and listen to different representatives from all over Laguna, Cavite, Batangas; listen to the first responders, listen to those who are directly affected,” Cayetano said.

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez raised the motion on the conduct of the session in Batangas City and was subsequently approved by the plenary.

“In view of the unanimity in spirit, and the consensus arrived at by the leaders of the House at your office, and at your instance, we move to hold the session this Wednesday at the Batangas City Convention Center at 1 p.m.,” Romualdez said.

Cayetano said he has already tasked the House Committee on Disaster Management, chaired by Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, to consolidate all efforts for the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected people from Batangas, Laguna, and Cavite.

“We want to come up with a feasible, strategic and comprehensive rehabilitation plan and assign whether it is one person, one agency or one department that will be fully accountable,” he said.

Cayetano earlier promised that the House would fast-track the passage of a measure proposing the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1091390

Time running out on ABS-CBN, says solon

By Ellson Quismorio

Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez prodded on Monday the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to act with haste on the bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, as time is quickly running out for the broadcast giant.

“Time is of the essence because the ABS-CBN franchise will expire on March 30 this year. Congress will adjourn for its Holy Week break on March 11. There will only be 22 session days between now and March 11,” he said.

ABS-CBN has over 11,000 workers, and their continued employment hangs in the balance.

Rodriguez has authored House Bill (HB) No. 5705, which seeks the renewal of the Lopez-owned network’s franchise for another 25 years. There are nine similar bills pending with the Legislative Franchises panel, which is chaired by Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz Alvarez.

The Mindanao lawmaker said Congress “should always uphold the constitutional mandate under Section 4, Article 111 of the Charter to ensure freedom of the press.”

He said the Alvarez committee should “hear all the authors of the 10 bills and stakeholders, especially 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,” said Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

Rodriguez noted that ABS-CBN is the country’s largest media conglomerate in terms of revenue, operating income, net income, assets, equity, market capitalization, and number of employees.

“In my explanatory note on Bill No. 5707, I stated that ABS-CBN has been very big on corporate social responsibility, in helping others and in giving back. The late Gina Lopez initiated the Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan and Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig projects,” he added.

The Legislative Franchises panel has said it would soon schedule hearings on the ABS-CBN bills, and that its deliberations would be fair.

But it also reminded the TV-radio network that the grant of a franchise is a privilege of Congress and not a matter of right on the part of the franchisee.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/20/time-running-out-on-abs-cbn-says-solon/

Vilma Santos proposes creation of Taal Commission

Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto (Batangas) proposed the creation of a commission that would assist the victims of the eruption of the Taal Volcano.

In a privilege speech Monday, Santos told her colleagues at the House of Representatives that 41,000 families or about 180,000 individuals stay in evacuation centers within and outside Batangas.

"I propose to this body for the creation of Taal Commission at the appropriate time — the relief rehabilitation and assistance of those affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano," Santos said.

Santos, also a former Batangas governor, urged Congress to make a realignment of funds in coordination with the House appropriations committee, Department of Budget and Management and other government agencies for the immediate release of funds.

This would address the crisis cost by Taal Volcano's steam-driven eruption in order to ensure the immediate rehabilitation and resettlement of those affected.

"In addition, I hope we can craft more laws that would improve our local government units' disaster preparedness capabilities so that we can ensure the safety, health and economic well-being of our people," Santos said.

Citing Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, Santos reminded her fellow Batangueños that Alert Level 4 is still in effect over Taal Volcano, which means that an explosive eruption is still possible.

The lawmaker reiterated that residents within the 14-kilometer danger zone have to stay outside the perimeter and temporarily take shelter in evacuation centers.

The towns of Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Talisay, Balete, Mataas na Kahoy, Lemery, Laurel, Taal, part of Cuenca, Alitagtag, Sta. Teresita, San Jose, Malvar, Tanauan City, Lipa City, parts of Tagaytay City and parts of Cavite province are in high-risk zones.

Meanwhile, Santos' husband Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto filed a bill seeking to create the Taal Volcano Rehabilitation and Development Commission before the Senate.

Under Senate Bill 1275, the Taal Volcano Rehabilitation and Development Fund will allocate P50 billion to provide immediate relief to affected individuals and families.

This would also establish resettlement centers, homesites and townsites for displaced families; provide livelihood and employment opportunities for residents; and construct, repair, rehabilitate or reconstruct public infrastructure needed in affected communities.

"Ultimately, this proposed measure seeks to hasten the recovery and sustain the economic development of communities affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano, with the hopes that the return to normalcy will aid not only in the economic prosperity of the Southern Tagalog Region but of the entire country as well," Recto said.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/01/20/1986373/vilma-santos-proposes-creation-taal-commission

Start ABS-CBN franchise hearings, solon urges House colleagues

An administration congressman urged his colleagues Monday to start deliberations on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, as supporters from media warned that efforts to shut down the news company were an “attack on press freedom.”

Congress has only 22 session days left to decide whether to extend the franchise for another 25 years, said Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who filed one of at least 8 bills seeking to keep ABS-CBN on air. The franchise is set to expire on March 30.

“Time is of the essence,” he said in a statement. “It is not proper not to act on my bill and the other bills.”

Rodriguez, a member of the majority, said the legislature “should always uphold the constitutional mandate... to ensure freedom of the press.”

The Cagayan de Oro lawmaker cited ABS-CBN's corporate social responsibility projects, including the late Gina Lopez's Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan and Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig projects.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly complained about ABS-CBN’s reporting, including its failure to air a political ad of his during the 2016 campaign.

Last month, the president also told owners, in a televised speech, to just sell ABS-CBN.

“Yung nangyayari sa ABS-CBN is an attack on press freedom. It’s ABS-CBN now. Sino pa kaya ang susunod sa malapit na hinaharap?” journalism professor Danilo Arao said in a Manila forum.

(What's happening to ABS-CBN is an attack on press freedom. It's ABS-CBN now. Who's next in the near future?)

How the press and the public at large will react to government pressure on ABS-CBN’s franchise will provide an “important test,” said journalist Vergel Santos, former chairman of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.

“Tanungin ninyo ang inyong sarili. Anong gagawin natin dito? (Ask yourselves. What do we do now?)” he said in the forum, noting Filipinos lost their “almost instinctive moral exercise” to protest whenever basic freedoms came under threat.

Malacañang maintains that press freedom is not at stake in ABS-CBN's franchise renewal.

There are 8 bills seeking an extension of ABS-CBN's franchise. There are also other bills seeking to grant fresh franchises to its cable TV, UHF free TV, and data services as these will expire in March 2020, July 2020, and June 2022, respectively.

The House committee on legislative franchises earlier said it would soon schedule hearings on the ABS-CBN bills, and that deliberations would be fair. -- with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/20/20/start-abs-cbn-franchise-hearings-solon-urges-house-colleagues

22 session days left: Rodriguez calls for swift passage of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodrigues has urged the House committee on legislative franchise to expedite the passage of the franchise renewal bill of broadcast giant ABS-CBN, with only 22 sessions days remaining before the Congressional recess on March.

Rodriguez stressed that “time is of the essence because the ABS-CBN franchise will expire on March 30 this year.”

“Congress will adjourn for its Holy Week break on March 11. There will only be 22 session days between now and March 11,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez last December authored Bill No. 5705—one of the nine proposed legislations that seek the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise for another 25 years.

According to Rodriguez, Congress “should always uphold the constitutional mandate under Section 4, Article 111 of the Charter to ensure freedom of the press.”

He said 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.”

Rodriguez noted being ABS-CBN is the country’s largest media conglomerate in terms of revenue, operating income, net income, assets, equity, market capitalization, and number of employees “has been very big on corporate social responsibility, in helping others and in giving back.”

“The late Gina Lopez initiated the Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan and Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig projects,” he added.

The legislative franchise panel under Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez has said it would soon schedule hearings on the ABS-CBN bills, and that its deliberations would be fair, but it also reminded the TV-radio network that the grant of a “franchise is a privilege of Congress and not a matter of right on the part of the franchisee.”

https://politics.com.ph/22-session-days-left-rodriguez-calls-for-swift-passage-of-abs-cbns-franchise-renewal/

The Butcher | Franchise or no franchise, ABS-CBN will survive

Now that the approval for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise is still hanging  in the air, people working for the network are understandably on tenterhooks. But life goes on for everyone.

Sure, they talk about the possibility of the network losing its franchise from time to time. However, that issue doesn’t necessarily consume them 24 hours a day. What they discuss mostly among themselves is still work-related.

The on-cam talents continue to wait for their next assignments, which at this point are already few and far between – what with so many of them crowding the ABS-CBN stable.

The technical team, meanwhile, is busy with the network’s transfer to its new studios in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. (There are unconfirmed reports that the existing studio along Sgt. Esguerra will be turned into another Rockwell complex.) The new ABS-CBN property in San Jose del Monte is huge – some 7.7 hectares.

So far, two sound stages are already finished and operational. All episodes of Your Moment, in fact, were completed there. Some of the network’s forthcoming soaps may also hold its shoots in the San Jose del Monte studio. Star Cinema’s next project most likely will also be filmed there in its entirety.

The two studios are of Hollywood standards – with high ceilings and measuring 1,500 square meters each. So far, there are already inquiries from American film companies that regularly shoot here in the Philippines about the possibility of renting the new ABS-CBN studio facilities. ABS-CBN president Carlo Katigbak, however, isn’t open to the idea. At least, not yet.

At this point, there are 10 more sound stages that are waiting to be built. The ABS-CBN technical people, however, are already undergoing rigorous training on how to run the new facilities.

Of course, while some ABS-CBN employees are excited about the transfer, there are also those who dread the commute to the new studios, which may take an hour to reach from Quezon City – on a day without traffic, that is.

Right now, those who do not have vehicles, but are required to do chores there are forced to take the shuttle from SM San Jose. But there are ongoing talks with the Ayalas for them to devote an MRT station there for the convenience of the ABS-CBN employees and, eventually, for the benefit of the live studio audience who may want to watch It’sShowtime and ASAP.

But why does the network continue to plan for the future when there is a possibility that its franchise will not be renewed? The ABS-CBN people, in fact, are said to be expecting the worst.

There is still a glimmer of hope for them, however. All is not lost.

In case, the ABS-CBN franchise doesn’t get renewed, all that the network is losing is just its frequency. Its regular viewers will not see It’s Showtime and FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano anymore on Channel 2. Likewise with the listeners of the radio stations DZMM and MOR. 

But they can still watch their favorite Kapamilya shows in other ABS-CBN platforms – like cable, I Want and the The Filipino Channel abroad. And lest we forget – there’s always Facebook.

The truth is, only 60% of the population still watch TV since most others already rely on their computers and phones for information and entertainment. There would even be less in the following years. In a decade or so, it is possible for regular TV to just be a thing of the past.   

Actually, even before the threat of franchise cancellation came around, ABS-CBN was already preparing to get into other platforms since its executives had long been aware of the possibility of regular television going extinct.

It’s just unfortunate that the threat of franchise cancellation came at a time when the other platforms aren’t exactly profitable yet.

Are the ABS-CBN employees going to lose their jobs? Perhaps some may be affected. But then, the network would surely need people to run its alternative platforms. One thing for sure though is that there would be a lot of adjusting to do when it comes to the workflow because of the new network setup.

And, yes, but hopefully this doesn’t happen: There could be some adjustment to their pay since the new platforms may not earn as much (at least, not yet) compared to the huge advertising revenues ABS-CBN gets at the moment from regular television.

The only people who will definitely be most affected, frankly speaking, are the Lopezes because they stand to earn less. But why worry about them when they have other businesses?

Besides, this problem regarding the cancellation of the ABS-CBN franchise is just kindergarten to them. When Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972, they lost everything: ABS-CBN, Meralco and The Manila Chronicle. Geny Lopez was even jailed.

But 14 years later, they bounced back and ABS-CBN regained its reputation as the biggest broadcast network this side of the world.

The Lopez family had always been risk-takers. In the late 1960s, they built that entire ABS-CBN compound in what was then called Bohol Avenue in Quezon City.  It had the most modern facilities and studios. In fact, ABS-CBN became the first local network to broadcast in full color.

In 1971, in its attempt to monopolize television, it opened another station aside from Channel 2. This was Channel 4 (not to be confused with the government station).

This was how the two sister stations operated: Every day at 6 p.m. for example, ABS-CBN Channel 2 aired the variety show On With the Show with Mitch Valdes, Maritess Revilla and Manolo Favis. On the very same time slot, ABS-CBN Channel 4 also aired a program with a similar format--The Wow Generation with Baby O’Brien.

In that manner, ABS-CBN had a bigger slice of the advertising pie and definitely had a bigger chunk of the viewership, compared to Channels 5, 7, 9 and 13. (MBC-11 had already gone out of business by then.) That also proved to be cost-efficient: The on-cam talents shared one dressing room and had the same team of makeup artists. After they were all dolled-up, they went to their respective studios that were just across each to make more money for ABS-CBN. But all that ended when Marcos shut down ABS-CBN.

Even during the post-EDSA I ABS-CBN, the Lopezes continued taking risks. Putting up TFC was a gamble for one. But that later paid off handsomely.

In 1992, it bought the exclusive coverage rights to the Barcelona Olympics. Two years later, the network handled the Miss Universe show in Manila. Those were costly projects. ABS-CBN, however, wanted the prestige. That sure added luster to the company’s image.

GMA operates differently. From 1998 till 2010, for instance, it aired the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. If you go by the math, any network airing a special event is bound to lose money because its programs are preempted and regular advertising income is lost. The network, however, doesn’t go to the poorhouse because of that. At most, only a night’s income is sacrificed.

When GMA gave up Binibining Pilipinas in spite of Venus Raj’s fourth place win at Miss Universe, ABS-CBN gladly took the pageant in and got lucky: All the Philippine bets after Venus did impressively at the international beauty congress and became news-makers.

GMA was unable to get hold of any of those girls because they were only exclusive to ABS-CBN. Jessica Soho actually had to fly to New York to corner Pia Wurtzbach.

ABS-CBN, on the other hand, was able to bleed each one of those beauty queens for all they were worth. Oh, how those girls brought in the ratings because – as they say – everybody loves a winner.

Perhaps that was one of the reasons why GMA slid down to No. 2 sometime in 2014 after lording it over in Philippine television beginning in late 2003. 

And so – for those worried about ABS-CBN losing its franchise, there’s no need to panic. Trust ABS-CBN to know how to play its cards right.

https://pikapika.ph/pikadaily/the-butcher-franchise-or-no-franchise-abs-cbn-will-survive

Palace: Crisis over ABS-CBN franchise unlikely

Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s fears that a quo warranto petition to cancel ABS-CBN’s franchise might lead to a “constitutional crisis” is unlikely, Malacañang said on Sunday, stressing that there is a distinction between congressional franchises and violations of the law.

“It is the Solicitor General’s job to file cases against those violating the law. The franchise coming from Congress is different, and so is violating the franchise. That’s two things. Both can independently be taken together,” Panelo said over dzIQ. “That is unlikely. Why should there be a constitutional crisis?”

He made the remarks after Lacson said the planned quo warranto proceeding could cause a constitutional crisis because should the Supreme Court grant the quo warranto petition while Congress is conducting a plenary deliberation on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, there would be a question of which would prevail.

“Whatever the Supreme Court says becomes part of the law of the land, but we are talking about the Constitution. The Supreme Court cannot declare as unconstitutional the ongoing deliberations of Congress about franchise renewal, because it is clear in the Constitution that franchise renewal is for to decide,” Lacson said in a radio interview on Saturday.

But Panelo said Calida’s plan to file a quo warranto petition is based on violations of the franchise, such as the broadcast network’s alleged unpaid taxes, and even claimed that there may been collusion in the four tax compromise agreements that ABS-CBN reached with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and approved by the Court of Tax Appeals.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1215222/palace-crisis-over-abc-cbn-franchise-unlikely

ABS-CBN to lose big if franchise not renewed

IF troubled TV network giant ABS-CBN fails to retain its franchise, this will inflict a massive toll on the Lopez-led group’s performance in the market, an analyst said.

“Telebroadcasting is a significant part of ABS-CBN, so a non-renewal of its franchise would be a drag to the company,” Japhet Louis Tantiangco, research analyst at Philstocks Financial Inc., told The Manila Times on Friday.

Tantiangco said without the franchise, the company would go through “challenging times as it builds new business strategies to cope with the new circumstances.”

It was in early 2017 when Duterte started his tirade against the network for allegedly airing biased stories against him. This was fanned by ABS-CBN’s airing of a political ad showing him cursing and making rape jokes.

The President in late December said it would be wise if the media giant sold the company because “it’s only now that Filipinos would be able to get back at your wrongdoings.”

ABS-CBN has kept mum on the issue.

Tantiangco said, however, that while the non-renewal of the franchise would be a “heavy opportunity loss” for the network, “it would most likely survive given that its income sources are diversified.”

Tantiangco said ABS-CBN could stamp its footprint in other businesses, including digital, cosmetics and financial technology.

In 2019, ABS-CBN began its venture into other industries, outside of media, which may “serve as a cushion” amid uncertainties with its franchise renewal. The network pursued its deals with cosmetics brand Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc., information and technology firm iBayad Online Ventures and The Chosen Bun Inc.

On TV5’s openness to air ABS-CBN shows, Tantiangco said: “The blocktime agreement offer would entail costs for ABS-CBN, so we’ll have to look into this first.”

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the House of Representatives should start acting on the pending franchise renewal, as he expressed support for the TV station.

“Congress must uphold the Constitution to ensure press freedom,” Rodriguez said.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also launched an online signature campaign for 1 million signatures to urge Congress to extend ABS-CBN’s franchise.

As of 12 noon on Sunday, more than 26,000 people had signed the petition.

‘No constitutional crisis’

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said there would be no “constitutional crisis” if the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) would file a case against ABS-CBN over alleged violations on its franchise.

Panelo was reacting to Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s warning of a “constitutional crisis” if the Supreme Court would grant the OSG’s quo warranto petition to revoke the media network’s franchise because its renewal was in the hands of Congress.

Panelo said Solicitor General Jose Calida had the responsibility to file cases against violators of the law. He added that charges in violation of the franchise were different from the issuance of a franchise.

Panelo said the unpaid taxes of the Lopez Holdings Corp., the parent company of ABS-CBN, was one of the bases for the quo warranto petition.

ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire in March. Republic Act (RA) 7966, which granted it 25-year franchise, was enacted on March 30, 1995.

Nine bills seeking to extend ABS-CBN’s franchise have been filed and are pending deliberations at the House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Franchises. Under RA 3846, radio and television broadcast stations are required to seek a franchise from Congress before being allowed to operate.

WITH DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/01/20/news/top-stories/abs-cbn-to-lose-big-if-franchise-not-renewed/675896/