LEGISLATORS in the Baguio City Council joined the call to support television network, ABS-CBN.
On the move of Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, unanimously approved by the entire city council, a resolution urging congress of the Philippines to fast-track the passage of House Bill 6694 which seeks to grant ABS-CBN broadcasting corporation a new franchise valid for another 25 years and appealing to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to reconsider its cease and desist order that caused the signing off of the giant television network and its affiliates nationwide.
The resolution backed by the entire council said “It is imperative for Congress of the Philippines, particularly the House of Representatives, to immediately act on the pending bill that seeks to grant a new legislative franchise to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation valid for twenty five (25) years so as not to suppress press freedom and allow the people easy access to available information for the country to win the fight against the rapid spread of the deadly virus.”
The resolution said “During the prevalence of the extended Luzonwide enhanced community quarantine due to the ongoing fight against the rapid spread of the dreaded Corona virus Disease (COVID) 219 in the country, the media sector, including ABS-CBN Broadcasting corporation, played key role in effectively and efficiently disseminating to the populace the guidelines and polices that were crafted by the national and local governments to ensure the compliance of the people to the precautionary measures to combat the effects of COVID-19 to the country’s economy and the sources of livelihood of the Filipinos.”
The vice mayor said the operation of every media outfit, including ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, in whatever platform is very important during these trying times because it provides the people with available avenues from which to gather key information that will help in keeping them safe from the global pandemic.
Copies of this resolution will be forwarded to Congress of the Philippines and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for information, guidance, ready reference, and further needed action.