Senators on Friday expressed belief that the decision of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises’ to junk ABS-CBN Corp.’s bid for a franchise renewal will further help open the minds of the Filipino people on the current affairs of the state. 

Senator Nancy Binay said she too is disappointed over the non-renewal of the ABS-CBN’s franchise. 

“Sa pagpapahinga sa ere ng ABS-CBN, higit na kailangan ng taumbayan ang mas malakas na boses para gisingin ang mga nagtutulog-tulugan, at sigawan ang mga nagbibingi-bingihan (With ABS-CBN temporarily signing off the air, the people now greatly need louder voices to awaken those who are feigning sleep, and shout on those who are trying to be deaf),” Binay said in a statement.

“They may have shutdown the cameras, but the people now see things brighter through many new lenses,” she said.

Binay said she too, shares the hurt and heartbreaks in every Filipino home, and the tears of more than 11,000 workers who were denied hope.

“I can only ask our leaders what their plans are for the thousands of workers who have lost their jobs. Sa panahon ngayon, lalong kailangan maramdaman ng mamamayan ang malasakit mula sa pamahalaan (During this tough times, people need to feel the government’s concern for them),” the senator pointed out.

“To the ABS-CBN Family, what hurts you today will make you even stronger tomorrow. The die may have been cast, but it's never the end,” she stressed.

“Sa ngayon, tinapos na po nila ang palabas. Inilabas na wala nang palabas (They’ve ended the show, deciding there should be no more shows). But consider everything as a pause or an intermission. Tulad ng radyo't telebisyon, ipanalangin nating maibalik ang inyong mga paboritong programa makalipas itong malungkot na patalastas (Like radio and television, we will pray that your favorite programs would be restored after this disappointing commercial),” Binay said.

Sen. Joel Villanueva, likewise, expressed his disappointment over the House panel’s move, saying he is now more concerned over the impact of the decision to the country’s workforce at a time of a COVID-19 crisis. 

“Losing a job at this point in time is a serious problem not only to the 11,000 workers of ABS-CBN but to their respective families and loved ones,” said Villanueva, who chairs the Senate committee on labor and employment.

“We should all realize that it’s a serious problem of this nation, it’s now everyone’s problem,” Villanueva further stressed.