Automatic provisional franchise renewal bills not priority in Senate amid COVID-19 —Sotto

Published May 13, 2020 09:15 PM By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News

Senate bills seeking the automatic provisional renewal of franchises that expired with pending final decision from Congress are not among the priority measures that will be approved by the upper chamber before it goes on break in June, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday.

"Malabo 'yan in the next two weeks, I doubt it," Sotto said in a virtual interview.

"First of all, katulad ng pinagusapan namin sa caucus kahapon, whatever we pass from today up to the 2nd of June, kung walang counterpart sa House, nag-aksaya lang kami ng panahon," he added.

Sotto said bills that have counterpart versions in the House of Representatives, those related to COVID-19, and the economic and the stimulus package would be prioritized by the Senate. 

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday filed a bill generally seeking the non-expiration of legislative franchises with pending applications for renewal, provided that the applications have already been filed in a timely manner.

Senator Lito Lapid also filed a measure

that would allow radio stations in the Philippines to continue operations even with expired franchises if their renewal applications are pending in Congress.

The said bills were created after the ABS-CBN Corporation's shutdown owing to the expiry of its franchise on May 4 while its application for renewal is still pending in Congress. Several senators have previously said a "gap in the law" caused the dilemma.

While pointing out that it has been a practice of the National Telecommunications Commission to grant provisional authorities in such cases before, some senators have acknowledged that there is no specific law clearly stating what should happen if a franchise expires while its renewal is being deliberated in the legislative branch.

Nonetheless, Sotto earlier vouched for the swift passage of ABS-CBN's franchise bill once it is transmitted by the lower chamber.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also said senators would work on it expeditiously before the sine die adjournment of session in the first week of June.

Senate Bill Nos. 981 and 1521—respectively seeking a 25-year franchise, and a provisional franchise for ABS-CBN until June 30, 2022—have already been referred to the committee on public services. Zubiri said hearings may start next week.

"Hopefully the committee report can be sponsored by Wednesday during session and second reading could be done by the 25th of May. We will push for third reading on June 1 and hopefully ratified by both houses before June 3," he added.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the measure granting a provisional franchise to broadcast giant ABS-CBN, valid until October 31, 2020. — BM, GMA News

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