Senator Grace Poe said on Thursday, March 21, that the measure seeking the franchise revocation of controversial network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) will be made the subject of utmost study and scrutiny in the Senate.

Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said that this shall set a precedent for future legislative franchises.

"To my knowledge, this is the first instance that a proposal for a franchise revocation has made significant progress in Congress," she said.

"The Committee shall seek the consensus of the body on this. No franchise bill has ever been listed as a priority so I defer to the leadership as to the pace of its disposition," she added.

As a matter of procedure, Poe said that they will act on the SMNI franchise revocation once it is transmitted to the Senate and referred to the Committee on Public Services.

"The appropriate manner of effecting revocation is through a repeal of the franchise law. Thus, the repealing statute must undergo the same legislative process as when a bill is passed into law," she added.

She also said that they will always be guided by the principle that a franchise was a privilege and that grantees should always abide by the tenets of fairness and public welfare.
 

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) No. 9710  during plenary session on Wednesday, March 20. It was the final session day before the Holy Week break.

On the same day, the House voted 288-8-2 (yes-no-abstain) to pass on third and final reading Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH No.7). 

With regard to RBH No.7, Poe said the Senate has started hearing the issue even before its transmittal in the form of RBH No.6.

"We have always taken into consideration the other Chamber's priorities but the Senate has never been in the tradition of railroading any measure. All bills are thoroughly debated and major stakeholders are respectfully consulted without exception," she said.

"Whether it’s a constitutional amendment or a legislative franchise, the Senate prioritizes measures according to the needs of the country. The people sets the deadline; we just listen," she added.