Gatchalian urges gov't to accept ABS-CBN’s offer to help in distance learning

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday urged the government to accept ABS-CBN’s offer for its transmission network and educational programs to be used for distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the Senate committee on basic education chairperson underscored that the media giant reaches 19 million households nationwide.

“Dahil abot ng ABS-CBN ang malaking bahagi ng bansa, isang malaking tulong ang kanilang alok na magamit ang kanilang transmission network at mga programa upang maipagpatuloy ang edukasyon sa gitna ng pandemya,” Gatchalian said.

ABS-CBN has been off air since May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order. Its 25-year franchise expired on May 4, pending the decision of Congress on its franchise renewal.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises recently junked the media network’s franchise bid.

On Monday, the embattled ABS-CBN offered the use of its transmission network to aid the government in reaching students in distance learning.

“On top of our transmission network, we are also offering the use of all the educational programs we have produced over the past 20 years,” it said.

“While this is not expected to have any business impact to the company, we are hopeful that our network can help in the education of our students nationwide,” it added.

House Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte previously proposed that the government temporarily use ABS-CBN's former television and radio frequencies to air educational instructions for learners.

President Rodrigo Duterte, during his fifth State of the Nation Address, said the TV frequencies that will be returned to the government will be used for the "uninterrupted, quality education" of students.

Gatchalian, however, pointed out that the government use of the ABS-CBN's previous frequency could be technically impossible.

“Without the permission of the ABS-CBN Corporation, hindi magagamit 'yung equipment. Therefore, hindi magagamit 'yung frequency. The frequency is very specific to the equipment, hindi ka puwedeng bumili ka lang ng transmitter magagamit mo na ang frequency, very specific 'yan," he previously said.

Now that the ABS-CBN has made such an offer, the senator said many Filipino students would benefit as he cited DepEd data showing that 1.3 million learners prefer television as an alternative learning modality for distance learning.

According to the senator, more than 22 million learners have enrolled in public and private schools nationwide for the upcoming school year. —LDF, GMA News