Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the House of Representatives Wednesday tackled and approved on second reading, through viva voce voting, House Bill No. 6732, authored by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and several House leaders, granting the ABS-CBN authority to operate ‪until October 31, 2020‬, while the chamber determines the propriety of giving the network a franchise for another 25 years.

Despite the urgent need of the Filipino people for the government to defeat COVID-19 at the soonest time, Cayetano, as sponsor of the measure, said “Sa araw na ito, we will begin the process of turning on your transmitter by giving you a franchise ‪until October 31, 2020‬, and we will have the hearing. Tatapusin namin ‘to, at tao ang magju-judge kung dapat kayo bigyan o hindi ng prangkisa.”

Meanwhile,  Cayetano maintained the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), by turning back on its commitment to Congress, has distracted the nation’s focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the NTC should not have halted the network’s broadcast without notice and due process, especially in the time of a pandemic.

Cayetano then underscored the need for Congress to thoroughly and impartially deliberate on the franchise, taking into account all issues surrounding it, including alleged violations of labor laws, tax laws, constitutional laws, and election laws.

“Wala tayong binubusalan dito. We are simply following the law that every 25 years, you have to present before Congress why we should give you another 25 years. And if some, many, or even one person complains, it is our duty to hear that complain and judge later on. Hindi po magiging tama ang desisyon ng Congress if we will act speedily for the sake of acting speedily,” he said. Press and Public Affairs Bureau