Measure renewing ABS-CBN franchise filed in House

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda has joined five of his colleagues in the House of Representatives in pushing for the renewal of the legislative franchise of TV giant ABS-CBN.

- By DELON PORCALLA

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee told reporters he filed House Bill 11252 in a bid to grant the Lopez-owned broadcast station another 25 years, or at least until 2050 in case the chamber, which revoked the franchise in July 2020, issues another one until June this year.

"I believe the free market of ideas requires competition. A virtual monopoly will not do, as far as disseminating ideas and keeping the public informed is concerned. I also owe it to Albay. ABS-CBN remains the single most important news source in Albay, despite its lack of a franchise," he said.

As it is now, there are six House members - Salceda, Reps. Rufus Rodriguez, Gabriel Bordado Jr., France Castro, Arlene Brosas and Raoul Manuel of the Makabayan Bloc - have endorsed the ABS-CBN bill in the 19th Congress, or since July 2022 that will last until June 2025.