Bill to grant franchise to ABS-CBN filed
ALBAY 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda on Tuesday filed House Bill 11252, seeking to grant ABS-CBN Corp. a legislative franchise to run television and radio broadcasting stations for 25 years. "I believe that the free market of ideas requires competition," Salceda said in a statement. "I also owe it to Albay. ABS-CBN remains the single most important news source in Albay, despite its lack of a franchise," he added. In the bill's explanatory note, Salceda said ABS-CBN's extensive regional network reach was crucial to disaster risk reduction. "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," he added, noting the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue have cleared ABS-CBN of the allegations against them. The new franchise, if granted, shall be in effect for 25 years "unless sooner revoked or canceled." Under the measure, ABS-CBN shall provide adequate public service to enable the government, through the said broadcasting stations or facilities, to reach the population on important public issues; provide at all times sound and balanced programming; assist in the functions of public information and education; conform to the ethics of honest enterprise; and not use its stations and facilities for the broadcasting of obscene material; or for the dissemination of false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of the public interest, or to incite, encourage or assist in subversive or treasonable acts. It also requires ABS-CBN to inform Congress of any sale, lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, or assignment of franchise or the rights or privileges, as well as merger or transfer of the controlling interest of the company within 60 days after the transaction was completed. To encourage public participation in public utilities, ABS-CBN was required to offer Filipino citizens at least 30 percent or a higher percentage as permitted by law of its outstanding stock in any securities exchange in the country within five years from the start of its operations. In cases where public offers of shares are not applicable, the bill requires the establishment of cooperatives and other methods of encouraging public participation by citizens and corporations operating public utilities.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
ALBAY 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda on Tuesday filed House Bill 11252, seeking to grant ABS-CBN Corp. a legislative franchise to run television and radio broadcasting stations for 25 years.
"I believe that the free market of ideas requires competition," Salceda said in a statement.
"I also owe it to Albay. ABS-CBN remains the single most important news source in Albay, despite its lack of a franchise," he added.
In the bill's explanatory note, Salceda said ABS-CBN's extensive regional network reach was crucial to disaster risk reduction.
"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," he added, noting the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue have cleared ABS-CBN of the allegations against them.
The new franchise, if granted, shall be in effect for 25 years "unless sooner revoked or canceled."
Under the measure, ABS-CBN shall provide adequate public service to enable the government, through the said broadcasting stations or facilities, to reach the population on important public issues; provide at all times sound and balanced programming; assist in the functions of public information and education; conform to the ethics of honest enterprise; and not use its stations and facilities for the broadcasting of obscene material; or for the dissemination of false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of the public interest, or to incite, encourage or assist in subversive or treasonable acts.
It also requires ABS-CBN to inform Congress of any sale, lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, or assignment of franchise or the rights or privileges, as well as merger or transfer of the controlling interest of the company within 60 days after the transaction was completed.
To encourage public participation in public utilities, ABS-CBN was required to offer Filipino citizens at least 30 percent or a higher percentage as permitted by law of its outstanding stock in any securities exchange in the country within five years from the start of its operations.
In cases where public offers of shares are not applicable, the bill requires the establishment of cooperatives and other methods of encouraging public participation by citizens and corporations operating public utilities.
