ABS-CBN ready to respond to issues, welcomes provisional franchise bill approval

ABS-CBN network on Wednesday welcomed the House Committee of the Whole's approval of a bill granting it a provisional franchise until October 2020.

House Bill 6732, authored by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, was sponsored by Cayetano along with Deputy Speaker Dan Fernandez on the floor.

"We thank the leaders of the House of Representatives and the sponsors of the bill led by Speaker Alan Cayetano and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez for recognizing the role we play in providing for the needs of the people in terms of access to news, information, entertainment, and public service at this crucial time," ABS-CBN said in a statement.

"We look forward to participating in the process of our franchise renewal and stand ready to respond to the issues that have been raised against the network, its owners, management, and employees," it added.

The House of Representatives later approved of the bill on second reading.

The network said it remains "open to opinions and constructive suggestions on how to improve the organization and better serve the Filipino people."

ABS-CBN ceased its operations on May 5 following a cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News