Makati Business Club again calls on Congress to renew ABS-CBN franchise

The Makati Business Club (MBC) over the weekend reiterated its call for Congress to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., to ensure equal treatment of all businesses and boost investor sentiment.

In a statement, the MBC -- composed of the Philippines' biggest corporations -- said the renewal of the broadcast company's franchise would encourage more investors to set up shop in the country.

"Aside from protecting press freedom, keeping ABS-CBN on the air will preserve one of the public's biggest sources of news and information, especially important in the whole-of-nation fight against COVID-19," the business group said.

According to the MBC, allowing ABS-CBN to resume broadcast operations would provide a platform for businesses to advertise their goods and services, which would in turn help revive the economy, preserve jobs, and in turn, increase tax collections.

"Finally, equal treatment of all companies -- especially by regulators, prosecutors, and lawmakers -- will signal that rule of law prevailed, encouraging foreign and local investors at a time when we most need their help to create new jobs," it said.

Congress has been deliberating the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Corp. for months now, after the lapse of the franchise on May 4, 2020.

Despite earlier promises, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on May 5 ordered ABS-CBN Corp. to stop operating its various television and radio stations absent a congressional franchise.

ABS-CBN signed off the same evening following a broadcast of its news program TV Patrol, in compliance with the cease and desist order.

The NTC order was released days after the Office of the Solicitor General warned NTC commissioners that they could face Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act charges should they issue ABS-CBN Corp. and its affiliate ABS Convergence Inc. a provisional authority (PA) to operate after its franchise lapses on May 4, 2020.

Prior to the warning, the NTC said it would heed orders of both House of Congress to grant ABS-CBN a PA to allow the company to continue operating while its franchise is being deliberated.

Just last week, the NTC ordered Sky Cable Corp., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corp., to stop its direct broadcast services under SkyDirect after its franchise lapsed.

Several government agencies, such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have maintained ABS-CBN Corp. had no violations.

The MBC and other business groups in June also expressed disappointment on the conviction of Rappler journalists over cyber libel charges, which they said threatened other rights and freedoms of Filipinos.  — DVM, GMA News