The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) may be inclined to grant ABS-CBN network provisional authority to operate pending the congressional deliberation on its franchise renewal, a Palace official said Friday.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the commission has previously allowed other broadcast companies to operate even after their franchise expired.
“The NTC will be more inclined to grant that provisional authority because it’s not an outright rejection from the House unless somebody questions it in the NTC,” Nograles said over CNN Philippines Friday.
“Based on practice, the NTC previously in previous franchises, pag nagexpire ng franchise at hindi pa na-grant previously the NTC gave provisional authority,” he added.
He noted that the House leaders have requested the NTC to allow ABS-CBN to operate even after its franchise expiration this May. The request was made until such time Congress has decided on the network’s application for franchise renewal.
The letter to NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba was signed by Speaker Alan Cayetano and House committee on legislative franchises chair Francis Alvarez.
“The House of Representatives, meaning to say the Speaker of the House, together with chair of the franchise committee sent a letter to the NTC saying, asking that the NTC gives a provisional authority after May 4 because the
House has not decided yet on the fate of the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN,” Nograles said.
The Lopez-owned media giant, which has drawn the ire of President Duterte, faces an uphill climb with its continued operations as the House of Representatives has yet to discuss the bills seeking to renew its franchise. The network also faces a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court over alleged violations of the law, including the foreign ownership ban on local media.
The network executives have maintained the company has complied with the law. (Genalyn Kabiling)
