Senators Seek ABS-CBN Provisional Franchise Till June 2022

Thirteen senators on Monday filed a bill seeking to grant ABS-CBN Corporation a provisional franchise until the end of June 2022.

Senate Bill No. 1521 aims to amend Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7966, which granted ABS-CBN a 25-year franchise that expired last May 4.

“Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation… is hereby granted a provisional franchise until June 30, 2022 to construct, operate and maintain[,] for commercial purposes and in the public interest, television and radio broadcasting stations in and throughout the Philippines,” the proposed measure read.

In the bill’s explanatory note, the senators noted that the non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise will result in the loss of thousands of jobs, would imperil the Philippine advertising industry, and the loss of a significant revenue stream for government, among others.

“Considering the network’s huge economic contribution to country, this measure should also be viewed as an attempt to save all the thousands of direct and indirect jobs dependent on ABS-CBN in a time of great unease and economic contraction,” the senators said.

Once enacted, the bill shall have a “retroactive effect from May 3, 2020” and shall be in full force and effect “until a new franchise has been granted” to the broadcast company.

SB 1521 was signed by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Lito Lapid, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Bong Revilla, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, and Manny Pacquiao. (PNA)