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Vice President Vilma Santos-Recto. Photo from Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – Saying she continues to believe this is “the right thing to do,” Vice President Vilma Santos-Recto said Monday she will introduce a new bill that would give ABS-CBN Corp. a new 25-year legislative franchise.
This comes after Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday introduced Senate Bill No. 1967, which seeks to revive the broadcast giant’s franchise.
Santos-Recto said he will introduce the bill this week or next.
“I am resubmitting the bill seeking the renewal for another 25 years of the ABS-CBN franchise. I presented it the last time and I still believe that it is the right thing to do, ”Santos-Recto told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
Santos-Recto said that the reopening of ABS-CBN will create jobs and “will help promote healthy competition between networks.”
“The most important thing is that you cannot deny the (cannot be denied) the great scope of (de) ABS-CBN in the regions during calamities,” Santos-Recto said.
“I hope that after resubmitting this bill, the Rules Committee will act immediately on this counterpart measure to Senate President Sotto’s bill, so that it will be referred to the Legislative Franchise Committee as soon as possible.” added.
Even if Sotto has introduced a bill granting ABS-CBN a new franchise in the Senate, a similar measure must first pass the House of Representatives.
According to the 1987 Constitution, private bills, such as the granting and renewal of franchises, “will originate exclusively” in the Chamber. This means that the House has to first approve ABS-CBN’s franchise offer before the Senate can make any significant progress on the matter.
Sotto’s Senate move came months after the House of Representatives legislative franchise committee rejected ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal offer, leading to the network’s shutdown in May 2020 by order of the National Telecommunications Commission due to an expired franchise.
Sotto believes that the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise has a “better chance” now with the change in the composition of the House.
As for Santos-Recto, he said he is “hoping for the best.”
To recall, all 70 lawmakers voted against ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application in July 2019.
KGA
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