The Senate public services committee will await the transmission from the House of Representatives of a bill seeking a 25-year franchise renewal for ABS-CBN Corporation.
Senator Grace Poe, committee chairwoman, issued the statement after Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III filed a bill today seeking a renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN which was denied at the committee on legislative franchises of the House of Representatives last July 10.
‘’My support for a free and fair media in the name of public service remains. I will make sure that the Committee acts on it in due course,’’ Poe stressed.
Poe said the issue would be given utmost priority as soon as it is referred to her committee ‘’given the crippling effects of the ABS-CBN shutdown and the need for more news outlets with the widest reach during the raging pandemic.’’
‘’However, since the Constitution requires that bills of such nature originate from the House, it (Sotto’s bill) will most likely be referred to (the Senate committee on) Rules until the House grants the franchise,’’ she added.