House panel ready for position papers on ABS-CBN franchise

THE House committee on legislative franchise on Monday, February 24, has started its preliminary proceedings on the bills seeking to renew the franchise of television network ABS-CBN.

Palawan Representative Franz Alvarez, who chairs the committee, said he has directed the committee secretary (ComSec) to accept position papers for or against the network’s franchise renewal application.

“In-open po natin ‘yung committee na tumanggap ng position papers ma pa-anti man kayo or for. I-submit niyo na po para kasama na po sa ma-review at mapag-aralan ng committee,” Alvarez told the reporters.

“Please communicate with all those who wish to submit position papers na ready na po ang committee na tanggapin po yung mga position paper ng lahat,” he said.

The panel chair added that the hearing proper on the network’s pending franchise bills may begin in May or August.

“Once ma-receive natin lahat ng position paper, mapag-aralan, maybe May or pinakamatagal siguro August, we are sure marami po talagang magsu-submit ng position paper and it will take time,” Alvarez said.

NTC Broadcast Division representative Annaliza Buenaviaje said they were still waiting for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rule on whether ABS-CBN can still operate after March 2020.

“We’re still waiting for the reply of the DOJ because the said understanding and position for the operation of a network is under consultation pa with the DOJ,” she said.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated that hearings on the network’s franchise renewal may not be scheduled before the lower chamber takes a break on March 15.

“What if we hear it next week and on that day mag testify ang mga empleyado na tinanggal, and then the next week break na kami. Will it be fair to ABS-CBN?” Cayetano said. (SunStar Philippines)

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