MANILA — Albay Second District Representative Joey Salceda has filed a bill seeking to grant ABS-CBN Corporation a 25-year legislative franchise to operate its television and radio broadcasting stations.
The proposed measure, House Bill 11252, aims to renew the franchise that was previously denied by Congress.
“Given the merits of renewing the franchise, as well as the clarifications made by government agencies over certain allegations against the grantee, this representation urges Congress to reconsider the non-renewal of the franchise by the previous Congress,” Salceda stated in the bill’s explanatory note.
Salceda emphasized the importance of competition in the free market of ideas. “I believe that the free market of ideas requires competition,” he said.
He also highlighted the significance of ABS-CBN as a news source in his district. “I also owe it to Albay. ABS-CBN remains the single most important news source in Albay, despite its lack of a franchise,” Salceda added.
ia/mnm
