Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday six broadcast companies were one step closer to getting their fresh legal mandates after the Senate approved on third and final reading the bills seeking the renewal of their legislative franchises for another 25 years.
Poe said the Senate’s approval of the bills was also a manifestation that the committee on public services, which she heads, gave importance to the companies seeking applications for franchise renewal.
“We want to make sure that all franchises are given equal opportunity and prompt scrutiny as we recognize the value of able media firms as sources of job opportunities and information especially in the countryside,” Poe said.
On Tuesday, the National Telecommunications Commission agreed to issue a provisional authority to allow broadcast giant ABS-CBN to operate pending the renewal of its franchise.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba made the announcement during the hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises led by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court again deferred taking action on the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General seeking to forfeit the franchises of ABS-CBN Corp.
The approved bills were on the respective franchises of Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media Inc.; Crusaders Broadcasting System; Bicol Broadcasting System Inc.; Golden Broadcast Professional Inc.; Gold Label Broadcasting System Inc.; and First United Broadcasting Corp., which is now known as Global Satellite Technology Services Inc.
All six broadcast franchises were passed on third reading on Monday and were transmitted to the House of Representatives for its approval of the Senate amendments. Gold Label Broadcasting System’s franchise is set to expire in May and the rest in July.
Welcoming the development, Poe said a franchise was a public duty.
“This is not a right available to all, but a privilege given to those with capacity to do the job,” she said.