The House of Representatives has passed on second reading a proposal to renew the legislative franchise of the International Broadcasting Corporation, more popularly known as IBC-13, for another 25 years.

House Bill (HB) No.6505 was approved via simple voice vote during plenary session Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 25.

Minutes before this, Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting, chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, delivered his sponsorship speech for HB No.6505.

IBC-13's franchise will expire in September 2025 under Republic Act (RA) No. 8954.

But if HB No.6505 will get enacted, then the government-run network will continue its commercial radio and television broadcasting operations in the country for another 25 years, or up to 2050.

It has five provincial TV stations with four relay stations and 11 provincial radio stations.

One of the authors of the measure, Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, underscored the importance of giving a fresh franchise to IBC-13 ahead of the expiration of its existing franchise.

“Without a franchise, IBC would have been forced to wind down. Whatever assets it has left will be sold to pay its liabilities, since it’s in negative equity position. The franchise creates a premium for valuing the IBC, should we ever decide to privatize the broadcaster,” Salceda said in a statement after the bill's second-reading passage.

“However, there are alternatives to privatization. And in fact, even if we privatize it, we could probably still have a public broadcasting function included in the deal," he noted.

Under HB No.6505, the grantee will be required to provide adequate public service time equivalent to a maximum aggregate of 10 percent of the paid advertisements, to enable it to inform the population on important public issues and assist in the performance of the functions of public information and education.

The bill also requires that 15 percent of the daily total airtime of each broadcasting network station to child-friendly shows within its regular programming.

The proposed franchise also reserves the right of the President of the Philippines to temporarily take over and operate the stations or facilities of the grantee, to temporarily suspend the operation of any station or facility in the interest of public safety, security and public welfare, or to authorize the temporary use and operation thereof in times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster or disturbance of peace and order.

It also prohibits the grantee from leasing, transferring, selling, or assigning the franchise or the controlling interest thereof without the approval of Congress.