MANILA, Philippines- Isang panukala para makapag-operate muli ang ABS-CBN Corporation ang inihain ni Albay Rep. Joey Salceda sa Kamara.
Sa paghahain ng House Bill 11252 na nagsusulong na mabigyan muli ng prangkisa ang ABS-CBN, sinabi ni Salceda na maaaring mabigyan ng prangkisa para makapag-operate muli ang ABS-CBN lalo at wala naman itong ownership restrictions at walang nakabinbing anumang tax liabilities.
Sa panukala ni Salceda, ipinaliwanag nito na dahil sa pagbawi sa prangkisa noon ng ABS-CBN ay nasa 11,000 manggagawa ang nawalan ng trabaho gayundin ay marami ang naapektuhan na mga manonood.
“Prior to the rejection of the franchise renewal, some 36 percent of Filipinos derived their news and entertainment from the channel. ABS-CBN’s extensive regional network reach was also the source for news and updates on impending disasters, making the channel crucial then to disaster risk reduction strategies at the local level,” nakasaad sa panukala.
“Given the merits of renewing the franchise, as well as the clarifications made by government agencies over certain allegations against the grantee, this representation urges Congress to reconsider the non-renewal of the franchise by the previous Congress,” anito pa.
Samantala, nang hingan ng komento, ipinaliwanag ni Salceda na mismong ang Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) maging ang Bureau ogf Internal revenue(BIR) ang naglinaw na walang anumang bayaring obligasyon ang ABS-CBN.
“I filed House Bill No. 11252, renewing the ABS-CBN franchise for another 25 years. I believe that the free market of ideas requires competition. A virtual monopoly will not do, as far as disseminating ideas and keeping the public informed is concerned. I also owe it to Albay. ABS-CBN remains the single most important news source in Albay, despite its lack of a franchise,” ani Salceda.
“You will remember that I even warned against the franchise rejection on grounds that it will add to COVID-19 infections due to lack of information. I saw adding my name to the list of principal authors this time as a way to add my voice to what is clearly the right thing to do,” pagtatapos ng mambabatas. Gail Mendoza
