The 11,000 ABS-CBN employees who lost their jobs amid the economic despair brought about by the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has remained a grave concern among lawmakers who tried, albeit in vain, to stop the closure of the network last year.
As the country’s media industry recall the rejection of ABS-CBN’s application for legislative franchise, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman said he hopes the displaced employees have found new jobs.
“Dalangin ko lang ay sana’y nasa maayos na kalagayan at may hanapbuhay na ang mahibit 11,000 nitong empleyado na nawalan ng trabaho (I hope the 11,000 employees who became jobless are now fine and employed),” said Hataman.
Labor statistics in last month report indicated a high unemployment rate that registered 8.7 percent. This translated to about 4.14 million jobless Filipinos.
Hataman was among the 11 solons who voted for the approval of bills granting ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year congressional franchise when the issue was put to a vote before the House Committee on Legislative Franchise on July 10, 2020.
However, 70 of their House colleagues, mostly members of the Malacanang-backed majority bloc, rejected the proposal, thus, resulting in the network’s permanent closure.
Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, who were among the 11 pro-franchise solons, have also expressed their concern on the network’s workers who lost their jobs.
Unlike contract stars of the network who easily joined other networks and media outfits, many of the workers have reportedly remained jobless because of the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic.
“Sana rin ay sa mga susunod na panahon ay mapag-usapan sa Kongreso ang muling pagbubukas ng himpilan (I hope in the future Congress will discuss the re-opening of the network),” said Hataman.
Rodriguez aired hopes that the next batch of lawmakers who will comprise the 19th Congress will be kinder to the network by ending the “injustice” the 70 anti-franchise solons brought about last year.
“I truly hope and pray that the incoming 19th Congress will act immediately to correct the injustice done to Abs-Cbn last year and grant a new franchise to ABS=CBN!,” said Rodriguez in a statement issued on SAturday.
For his part, Zarate stated: `”Now, more than ever, we must further strengthen our resolve to fight for press freedom and never forget what has been done to undermine our freedoms and democratic rights. Never forget! Never Again!”