Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Tuesday filed a bill seeking to give one of the country’s media giants, ABS-CBN, a franchise renewal.
According to House Bill No. 431, “the news and public affairs program of ABS-CBN serves as the only avenue for crucial and relevant information for a great number of our countrymen.”
“It is the source of information in the most far-flung areas of our country, keeping its
far-reaches up-to-date with the relevant happenings,” the explanatory note read.
On 5 May 2020,
ABS-CBN stopped broadcasting after theNational Telecommunications Commission questioned the validity of its franchise.
The networking giant was forced to operate online through block-time partnerships after Congress rejected a new franchise.
Citing the typhoon “Odette” in 2021, Pimentel said Congress should note that the cessation of the
ABS-CBN broadcast operation has caused particular hardship and distraught due to the lack of accessible information for Filipinos.
Reporters did not acquire a copy of the proposed bill filed on 30 June until it was published on the House of Representatives website.