Malacañang is letting the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) decide on what to do with ABS-CBN television and radio frequencies after the broadcast giant was denied a new franchise.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after House Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte proposed the government temporarily use ABS-CBN frequencies for distance learning this coming school year to aid the country's education system while battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with CNN Philippines Thursday, Roque said ABS-CBN frequencies can now be awarded but it was up to the NTC on what to do with them.
"It can now be awarded by the NTC. That's the function of the NTC and we leave it to the NTC what will happen to the frequency," he said Thursday.
However, Roque was uncertain if Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Commission on Higher Education Chairman Popoy de Vera want to have ABS-CBN's frequencies to implement distance learning.
"I don't know what the position is right now. I have to confirm," he said.
"I have not heard of any proposals in writing either from Secretary Briones or Chair Popoy that they want the frequencies of ABS-CBN and DZMM for blended learning," he added.
The Palace official, however, acknowledged that any frequency would be important for distance learning.
"Any frequency can be used for distance learning so it's up to the NTC. If the NTC says so, we will respect that because it's a quasi-judicial body," he said.
Currently, the government has two state-run television networks, PTV-4 and IBC-13, but Roque said these two stations will not be enough.
"It may not be sufficient because we have K-to-12," he said.
"Chair Popoy of CHED said that 40 percent of public universities and colleges don't have access to WiFi. So I would say that frequencies are now crucial to education now at the time of COVID-19," he added.
A total of 70 lawmakers rejected ABS-CBN's bid for a franchise renewal last week. The network is set to let go of some of its workers by Aug. 31.
President Duterte has rejected the idea of allowing children to return to school until a vaccine or a cure for COVID-19 is available.
Classes, no matter the form, are set to resume next month.