Broadcasting network ABS-CBN revealed on Wednesday that it will lay off a number of its employees effective Aug. 31, following the rejection of its franchise renewal bid before the House of Representatives.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said its failure to get a franchise renewal forced them to cease operations of some  businesses and “implement a retrenchment program covering ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries effective end of business day” on Aug. 31, 2020.

ABS-CBN said it is doing its best to “mitigate the pain” of employees affected by the situation by providing them separation and retirement benefits and job placement programs.

“The loss of their jobs comes at a time when the uncertain and perilous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic further makes our decision truly difficult, but inevitable,” the ABS-CBN management said in a statement.

“As much as it hurts us to implement this retrenchment program, this is the only way to ensure the continued employment of the rest of our 'Kapamilya,'” they added.

The broadcast giant said it continues to pray for its affected employees and their  families.

“For all that you have done for ABS-CBN, maraming salamat po (Thank you),” the management said.

Meanwhile, labor groups blamed President Duterte and the 70 lawmakers who voted against the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN for the looming loss of jobs in the network.

"The decision to shut down ABS-CBN came straight from Malacanang, no doubt. Duterte has no plan whatsoever for the livelihood of these 11,000 affected families," Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The layoff of workers is preventable one. But this administration wants to make a score against the owner of ABS.  This decision of the House will be remembered in history as a story of lack of foresight and lack of empathy to the workers.   The 70  decision makers and their seducers made a score to make the powerful happy," said Sonny Matula of the Federation of Free Workers.

Josua Mata of Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) said since Duterte is to blame for the loss of jobs of ABS-CBN workers, it is only right that his government should mitigate its impact.

"As such, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) should provide as much relief as it could to all the affected workers and ensure that they get employed by whichever company would take over the frequencies vacated by ABS-CBN," he said.

FFW and Nagkaisa urged ABS-CBN to provide generous safety net, over an above as provided by law, to cushion the impact of their employees termination due to closure.

Labor groups said this is especially since its difficult to look for new jobs now as the pandemic brought also a lot of closures and retrenchment of workers.

Labog appealed to the owners and managers in ABS-CBN to do everything they can to provide support and alternative livelihood for those who will be retrenched by the end of August.

"We believe that a continuing dialogue between the workers and management even in the face of an imminent massive job loss will keep the bond of the broad alliance to fight for the continued operation of ABS CBN intact," he said.