Author: Pinoy 2022

ABS CBN – FASTBREAK sa KAMARA NATALISOD at NAUDLOT sa third reading

By Pinoy 2022

abs cayetano batas

Nadapa ang minamadaling ABS CBN franchise extension bill. Dapat kahapon, Lunes, Mayo 19, ay nagkabotohan na para sa THIRD and FINAL READING ng panukalang batas. Matapos ang inaakalang matagumpay na botohan ay iaakyat naman ito sa Senado kung saan higit kalahati sa mga senador ay nagpahiwatig na sumasangayon sila sa paspasan upang mabuksan na muli, bagamat panandalian lamang, ang Kapamilya network. Mayroon ding petisyong Temporary Restraining Order sa Korte Suprema ang ABS CBN upang mabaliwala ang Cease and Desist Order na naging kasangkapan kung bakit ito nasara.

*********************

House plenary recalls ABS-CBN franchise OK

Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)
May 19, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — To pave the way for possible amendments, the leadership of the House of Representatives recalled yesterday the approval it gave on second reading to the bill granting ABS-CBN a provisional franchise.

The House was supposed to transmit the bill to the Senate, the committee on public services of which has already scheduled a hearing on the franchise renewal bills today.

But House Deputy Majority Leader Wilter Wee Palma II moved in Monday’s virtual session to reconsider instead last week’s plenary approval of House Bill 6732 (An Act Granting the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. a Franchise) that will be valid until Oct. 31 this year.

Rep. Eric Go Yap of party-list ACT-CIS, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, manifested that it would be “better” if lawmakers deliberate on giving the Lopez-owned TV giant a longer period to operate.

“Let’s debate whether we will or we will not give them a 25-year legislative franchise. Let us be more categorical – are we going to give them 25 more years or not?” the neophyte lawmaker declared on the floor.

Having elicited no objection in the plenary’s virtual session via Zoom app, Palma’s motion was “adopted” by the House leadership through Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu of Batangas, the presiding officer yesterday.

Villafuerte explained that the second reading approval would have to be recalled to give way to more interpellations and amendments.

“It has always been our position that we have to hear this and let’s decide on this freely and objectively. We want this to be more comprehensive. Yes, it is a five-month extension (bill) but we are also open to other amendments. In due time, we can also take up the 25-year franchise. We’re open to that,” he said.

House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante (Manila) supported the recall, saying it was “a step in the right direction.”

“If the (ABS-CBN) franchise is passed – and I believe it will – it is my humble request that their programs be more family-oriented so that there will be no more questions about morality and degrading behavior. We need partners in providing public information. ABS-CBN has the track record and the widest reach,” Abante said.

Yesterday, the giant network reiterated its appeal to the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the cease and desist order (CDO) that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued against them.

“ABS-CBN seeks to invalidate the CDO on the ground, among others, that it was issued in contravention of the intent and desire of Congress to allow the continued broadcasting operation of the company pending the renewal of its franchise. This Honorable Court may take judicial notice of the following recent events which highlight the intent and desire of Congress for ABS-CBN to be on air during the pendency of the renewal of its legislative franchise,” it said.

It noted that HB 6732, which seeks to grant the media network a franchise to construct, install, operate and maintain television and radio broadcasting stations in the country until Oct. 31, is being considered at the House of Representatives.

The Senate committee on public services, which will be headed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian today, will hear the bills seeking to renew the ABS-CBN franchise.

It invited Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra; Solicitor General Jose Calida; officials from the NTC, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology; executives of ABS-CBN; retired chief justice Reynato Puno; retired Supreme Court associate justice Adolfo Azcuna; former senator Juan Ponce Enrile; and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law to the hearing.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said the chamber would have to wait until the House transmits what it passed last week.

ABS-CBN lamented that it continues to lose about P30 million to P35 million a day from advertising revenues, every day that it is off the air.

“If this severe financial hemorrhage is not stopped, ABS-CBN may be constrained to eventually let go of workers, reduce salaries and benefits, and substantially cut down on costs and expenses,” it added.

Aside from seeking the SC’s help, ABS-CBN also asked the NTC not to recall its assigned frequencies. Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Richmond Mercurio

************

House recalls approval of ABS-CBN provisional franchise

Philstar.com
May 18, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives Monday recalled its approval on second reading of a bill granting ABS-CBN a provisional franchise to operate until October 31, 2020 “unless sooner revoked or canceled,” effectively reopening the bill to amendments and debate.

“Due to request of our members who wish to make some interpellations and possible amendments on the bill—let me make this of record that, at any time, the House can approve this bill, House Bill No. 6732 on third reading. But because of the insistence of our colleagues to interpellate further on the matter, I move that we reconsider approval on second reading of House Bill No. 6732,” Rep. Sharky Palma (Zamboanga Sibugay, 1st District) said in his motion.

House members said that the purpose of the provisional franchise is to give Congress time to deliberate.

Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr (Camarines Sur, 2nd District) said: “The reason we are reverting back is what we want to do in this Congress is be relevant, responsible, transparent and open. Due process and fairness is the main reason. All amendments are free to be heard and will be heard at this point in time. Approving them is for the body to decide.”

‘Public service time’ provision

Cayetano defended the public service time provision requiring ABS-CBN to allot 10% of its paid advertisement airtime to the government, going as far as saying that all franchises should have a similar provision and calling it an “equalizer provision [that would] be easier and more pragmatic for the government” to reach its audiences.

He also argued that the provision would do little to affect the broadcast giant’s income and stock market prices. 

“I’m hoping whatever our provision is, I am not making a stand at this point in time. I am for a hearing, let’s listen to the allegations against them first,” he said.

“I was told it was there in the old franchises. If we do decide to give ABS[-CBN] a franchise for months or years, that should be there so management can work with the government to come up with implementing rules and guidelines,” he added.

Citing more than five other broadcast franchises without such provisions, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro, 2nd District) held issue with the provision’s constitutionality for being unequal in its enforcement of the law as it would result in other networks not having that obligation.

He said that it would be much more practical to pass a general law for broadcasters instead of including it in every franchise.

“It will be questionable. The previous franchises, there were no questions. We see there will really be unequal protection of the law. Other franchises are not required to give the 10-percent public service,” he said.

Alleged violations

Allegations including contractual obligations, violations of labor laws, foreign ownership, among others, were brought up once more at the hearing.

Villafuerte highlighted that allegations against ABS-CBN will be comprehensively heard at the proper time during their respective committee deliberations.

A number of these issues had been addressed at a Senate hearing but not at the House of Representatives.

Rep. Eric Yap (ACT-CIS party-list) also said that the argument for the full 25-year franchise should be heard along with the alleged violations instead of the five-month provisional franchise pushed by Cayetano.

For her part, Rep. Sol Aragones (Laguna, 3rd District) , a former ABS-CBN journalist, said that besides having 11,000 in its employ, ABS-CBN is a source of information and inspiration for countless Filipinos.

Cayetano has in the past expressed having personal grievances against the network and historically voted in favor of the president’s decisions. — Franco Luna

 

*****************

House suspends deliberations on ABS-CBN provisional franchise bill

Christian Esguerra, ABS-CBN News

May 18, 2020

 

MANILA—Congressmen on Monday suspended deliberations on a bill granting a provisional franchise to ABS-CBN, raising fears it may take longer before the broadcast network can return to free TV and radio.

Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado asked his colleagues to first tackle House Bill No. 6732 at the committee on legislative franchise, a move which could delay efforts to reopen the network, which was shut down on May 5.

Monday’s session was widely expected to pass the bill on second reading, a perceived formality since the chamber had already approved the proposal at this stage last week.

But because the bill was passed on first and second reading on the same day, some congressmen sought to “recall” it for debates and individual amendments to avoid legal questions. The constitution requires approval on “separate days.”

The session gave some legislators an opening to bring up old accusations that ABS-CBN had violated its previous franchise, including laws on labor and foreign ownership in mass media.

Sy-Alvarado said referring the bill back to the committee level would allow “equal and comprehensive” discussions on the issues against ABS-CBN.

But this could also delay the reopening of the network.

Some congressmen were pushing for deliberations on a new 25-year franchise instead of a temporary one, which would last only until Oct. 31 this year.

“Bakit hindi na lang natin direchong i-hear yung 25 years na franchise ng ABS-CBN? Kasi ito din naman yung gusto ng lahat ng tao. Mapakinggan natin ang lahat ng panig… para once and for all, matuldukan na yung franchise issue na ‘to,” said Rep. Eric Yap, chairman of the appropriations committee.

“Kung tayo mapagde-decide natin na ibibigay, ibigay na po. Kung maide-decide natin na hindi po ibibigay, ‘wag pong ibigay.”

Yap earlier co-authored a resolution with President Rodrigo Duterte’s son, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, seeking a congressional investigation into ABS-CBN’s alleged violations of its previous franchise.

Such issues had been tackled at length during a Senate inquiry last Feb. 24, during which network executives insisted it violated no laws.

ABS-CBN said on Monday that the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue all testified that the network “had no violations as it relates to their specific agency,” and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello has said in an interview that the company was “fully compliant of labor standards.”

Yap said he had been approached by a number of people complaining about alleged labor violations by the network.

Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun sought clarification from his colleagues on whether they were deliberating on a new ABS-CBN franchise or were renewing its old one, which expired on May 4.

“What protection does ABS-CBN have from the possibility of its current frequency from being assigned to another network in the meantime that the franchise bills… are still being heard?” he said.

“Yun lang ang kinakabahala ko because the NTC, at this point, as far as we are concerned, cannot really be trusted.”

House leaders have criticized the National Telecommunications Commission for ordering the shutdown of ABS-CBN despite appeals from both chambers of Congress to keep it on the air while the franchise application was under deliberation.

But the lower chamber was also accused of sitting on the renewal bills after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to block a new ABS-CBN franchise.

ABS CBN – CONFLICT of INTEREST of Senators, they should INHIBIT themselves from the proceedings and voting on franchise renewal bill

By Pinoy 2022

poe abs 1

Sa Lunes, Mayo 18, 2020, ay magsusumite si Atty Larry Gadon ng sulat sa Senado, upang hikayatin ang mga Senador na mag inhibit sa pagdinig at sa pagboto sa Prangkisa ng Abs Cbn. Ito ang nilalaman ng kanyang sulat :

PHILIPPINE SENATE
Republic of the Philippines
Senate Building , Pasay City

For : Hon. Vicente C. Sotto, III
Senate President

Re: INHIBITION FROM DELIBERATIONS and VOTING on ABS CBN Franchise Bill

Date: May 18, 2020

Xx – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – x

Ako po ay lubos na gumagalang na nagbibigay ng mungkahi na naglalayon ng pag inhibit ng mga sumusunod na Senador na makilahok sa mga debate at botohan sa pagbibigay ng Prangkisa sa Abs CBN Corporation o sa ABS CBN BROADCASTING CORPORATION o ano mang kumpanya na may kinalaman at koneksyon sa ABS CBN. Ang mga Senador na ito ay may alegasyon na hayagang alam ng publiko na nakikinabang pati asawa o kapamilya sa ABS CBN bilang stockholder , talent , producer o iba pang interes, sa ABS CBN Channel 2 , TV Plus , Skycable , Radio at iba pang media na pag aari ng ABS CBN .

1. Senator Pangilinan – Spouse is stockholder , Talent of ABS CBN with many years of broadcast , movies are shown earning fees and royalties

2. Senator Cayetano – The law office Cayetano Sebastian , is one of the law offices retained by ABS CBN , the law office where the late Rene Cayetano was founder and partner and Senators Allan Peter and Pia are also either partners or associates , Sebastian is husband of Pia Cayetano . The late former Senator Rene Cayetano had a long running television and radio show COMPANERO in ABS CBN

3. Senator Paquiao – Receives fees and royalties from boxing fights , had a tv show in ABS CBN

4. Senator Lapid – Stockholder , Talent with latest show Probinsyano where he received talent fees and royalties

5. Senator Poe – Producer of tv show at ABS CBN , mother Susan talent and appears on several shows, Movies of adoptive father are shown over ABS CBN with royalties received

6. Senator Revilla- Talent , movies are shown in ABS CBN , receives royalties

7. Senator Angara – Wife works as top executive in ABS CBN

8. Senator Recto – Wife then actress Vilma Santos had tv shows in ABS CBN , son Lucky Manzano has current tv show

9. Senator Sotto – TV show Eat Bulaga in Channel 2 , where he received fees and royalties, Sharon the niece is stockholder and Talent , brother Vic Sotto is talent with movies shown in ABS CBN

The pecuniary interest or benefits of all of the above, in ABS CBN TV, Radio, Cable, TV Plus, Pay Per view are of undeniable public knowledge and need not be proven any further. It is not only for possible criminal and administrative prosecution for graft that should motivate them from inhibiting but for the time honored principle of DELICADEZA that they should heed this humble request and suggestion.

Sa Katotohanan , lahat ng lumagda sa Resolution “expressing the sentiment of the Senate” ay nararapat rin na mag inhibit sa debate at botohan sapagkat meron na sila agad pagkiling o pre-judgement pabor sa ABS CBN sa kabila ng pag expire ng prangkisa nito at sa mga alegasyon ng mga violations nito na may sapat na katibayan na sa kasalukuyang nasa petition sa Supreme Court at nasa mga reklamo at resolution ng pag iimbistiga sa House of Representatives.

Very Respectfully Yours,

ATTY. LORENZO G. GADON

COVID 19 – Law Enforcers, Law Breakers -Liquor Ban, Social Distancing violations in PNP exec birthday party

By Pinoy 2022

19 pnp bday 2

Mañanita for the General

Philippine Daily Inquirer

May 16, 2020

Delicadeza” is a word of Spanish origin that, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones in an essay written in 2009, “nearly everyone knows what it means (but) no one has bothered to come out with a standard definition, or translate it into law.” Still, the secretary points out that “delicadeza refers to behavior anchored on generally accepted moral standards,” and that “to be branded ‘without delicadeza’ is probably the strongest insult that one can hurl at a public official.”By that standard, the birthday party held last week for Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, could certainly be said to be lacking in “delicadeza.” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said as much, describing the gathering Sinas preferred to call a “mañanita” as “a big no-no” at this time, and reminding government officials of the appropriate behavior expected of them (“Ito ’yung tinatawag nating delicadeza. May pagkakataon na kailangan maging example ka.”)

Related to “delicadeza” is “sensitivity,” a sense of propriety born out of an awareness of the impact of one’s actions on others, especially the general public. Where does delicadeza figure in the early morning celebration to mark the day when, according to Sinas’ baffling self-defense, “God aggrandize (sic) his love for me and my family”?

It hardly helps that these quarantine orders have been enforced with harsh discipline and a chilling show of force. Communities have been hemmed in by police checkpoints, and just stepping out of one’s residence without a face mask can result in immediate arrest, humiliation, and punishment. Gathering in groups is also punished even if, as in Marikina recently, the “gathering” consisted of NGO workers offering free meals. And yet, just to add to the confusion, some local governments see no problem with summoning recipients of government aid to distribution centers where long queues and crowded interiors await them. So much for social distancing.

This is why Sinas’ birthday celebration has raised hackles. Officers and personnel, more than 50 by some counts, gathered in the early morning hours to serenade Sinas, even gifting him with roses and a birthday cake. True, most everyone was wearing a face mask, but the general took his mask off to blow out the candles on his cake (and thereby spreading the virus, if he was an asymptomatic carrier). In a post on the NCRPO’s Facebook page (taken down later), photos showed Sinas mixing freely with his subordinates, many of whom were shown, mask-less, lining up before a buffet and then sharing a table with the general. In some photos, cans of beer were visible despite the liquor ban. Sinas subsequently apologized, but claimed some photos were “manipulated.” Later, he went back to insisting there was nothing wrong with his birthday soiree (“Wala pong mali doon”).

What sticks in the craw is the sense of impunity: While the police are the main enforcers of the lockdown, they have also been shown to be among the first to violate the guidelines, and to be blithe about it. PNP chief Archie Gamboa, for one, was quick to defend Sinas’ conduct. But as Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen tweeted: “Parties are mass gatherings. It is insensitive to hold one.”

Anton Siy, Pasig City’s chief transport planner, summed up the sense of injustice many people feel in a widely-shared tweet: “Most Filipinos are happy to obey the law. What they protest isn’t the law itself but the unequal application of the law. They see that ordinary Filipinos are humiliated and hurt for breaking quarantine while government officials who do the same go unpunished. Take that for ‘disiplina’.”

Ordinary folk must stew in frustration and helplessness as long as the contagion sticks around. But the luckier few can “aggrandize” their positions and personal fancies without fear of retribution. Story of the Philippines even in the time of COVID-19.

 

ABS franchise bill – 1st and 2nd readings done in one day is AGAINST the LAW

By Pinoy 2022

Lawmaker wants to undo ‘risky’ 2nd reading approval of ABS-CBN franchise, make amendments

ABS-CBN News

Posted at May 15, 2020 

 

MANILA – A lawmaker said on Friday he would ask the House of Representatives to recall its “risky” second reading approval of a bill granting a provisional franchise to ABS-CBN Corp. following questions on whether the House’s action is constitutional.

abs cayetano batasUnder the law, bills in the House should pass 3 readings on separate days, said Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

House bill 6732, filed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, which would give ABS-CBN a provisional franchise until October 2020, passed first and second readings both on Wednesday.

There were previous instances when the first and second readings were done on the same day and the third reading on a separate day. However, these involved non-contentious issues, Rodriguez said.

“Whatever is the view of others and the experience, it is too risky to approve ito (ABS-CBN franchise) ngayon as it is na it was not read on separate days,” he told DZMM.

Rodriguez said he would ask House leaders on Monday to recall the bill’s second reading approval, which would also allow lawmakers to introduce amendments.

“Mahirap nang pumasa tayo ng batas tapos nag-violate ng constitution,” said Rodriguez, who is a former law dean.

(It’s difficult if we pass the law and violate the constitution.)

“I would ask that we recall the approval on second reading and be able to again open the period of individual amendment so that iyong amendment ko — saka iyong iba makasalita rin — ma-hear, then we again pass on second reading… To be very safe, we follow the constitution,” he added.

Rodriguez wants to amend the provision in HB 6732 that would require ABS-CBN to allot 10 percent of its advertisement airtime to “public service time for the judiciary, for the executive, for the legislature, for the constitutional commission.”

Rules for this, he said, would come from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that forced ABS-CBN off air when its franchise expired last May 4, after lawmakers deferred action on bills for its license renewal.

“It will be unequal protection of the law. We should remove that because it is undue imposition on a franchisee,” he told DZMM.

The NTC, under oath, told lawmakers in March that it would let the country’s top broadcaster to operate provisionally beyond the May 4 expiration of its license, while Congress tackles the bills for its franchise renewal.

But on May 5, days after Solicitor General Jose Calida warned NTC officials that they could face graft charges if they gave ABS-CBN a provisional permit, the regulatory agency ordered the 65-year-old media outfit to stop its broadcast operations due to its expired license.

Senators said they would pass the bill granting a provisional franchise before the Congress break in June, after which it will go to the Office of the President for signing.

ABS-CBN’s broadcast halt last week was the first since it was forced to sign off when martial law was declared in 1972.

It has asked the Supreme Court to stop the NTC order.

The network, which reaches millions nationwide through its free television and radio, has said it did not violate the law.

ABS CBN – National artist F Sionil Jose blasts Kapamilya network

By Pinoy 2022
19 f sionil
F Sionil Jose
May 8, 2020 

ABS-CBN: A Requiem
by F. Sionil Jose

Way back when the Manila Chronicle was a major daily, its Sunday column, Inside Malacanang, lampooned former Senator Helena Benitez. I confronted Celso Cabrera, the columnist. He was a frequent Solidaridad customer, an avid student of the Renaissance. Helena, I told him, as everybody knew was such a decent politician, well loved and respected. Celso said, the old man (meaning Eugenio Lopez), the publisher, ordered it. Before I could chide him, he said, I am nobody from Camiling (Tarlac). We were speaking in Ilokano. I am not a good writer. This man gave me a job, a house, a car. And he’ll refund all that I spend on your books. He asked for my balls so I gave them to him. The Lopez family is a leading member of the oligarchy—far more powerful than any of the oligarchs, then and now. As a leader of the sugar bloc, it had massive political and economic influence. It made presidents then used its influence to enlarge its economic clout, Meralco, ABS-CBN, etc. God knows what billions the family got from government financing institutions to become a haven for communist fronts and communists, among them the late Renato Constantino. One Sunday morning, he called me up at home and asked if I’d open our Solidaridad Galleries—Don Eugenio Lopez wanted to see the Nena Saguil exhibition. I hurried to the Gallery in Malate. Don Eugenio arrived and looked at the exhibit twice then he bought more than half of the show. Surely, there was a good side to this oligarch—his patronage of Filipino art, his Filipinoness as illustrated and epitomized in the Lopez museum. Surely, many writers and cultural workers owe him profound gratitude. I sympathize with the hundreds who will lose their jobs but I’ll not mourn the passing of ABS-CBN; its demise, I dare say, is even good for Philippine democracy if it also means the dismantling of the Lopez empire.

To conclude:
The Lopezes played the double game; they were vociferously anti-American but were the beneficiaries of American largesse in the sugar quota gift from America. Their writers included liberals, fellow travelers and communists but Eugenio Lopez himself personified the lowest form of capitalism. The Filipinos do not really need ABS-CBN. It does not produce goods or food. It has certainly entertained millions but it did not diminish poverty. Again, freedom worked for the rich—but not for the Filipinos.

ABS CBN – Cayetano fasttracks provisional franchise till October 2020

By Pinoy 2022

abs cayetano pro

Drama lang pala ang kunwaring pagpapahirap ni Speaker Cayetano. Dati sabi niya na puro daw sipsip yung ibang mambabatas sa TV network. Dapat daw marinig ang dalawang panig, yung sumusuporta at yung tumutuligsa, pero ngayon pabubuksan muli ang Kapamilya habang tinatalakay ang panukalang batas para sa panibagong prangkisa.

***********

ABS-CBN may be back on air by June: Cayetano

Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBN News

May 13 2020

 

MANILA – House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Wednesday ABS-CBN Corp may be back on air by the first week of June, amid swift proceedings on his proposed measure granting the network a temporary broadcast franchise until October.

Speaking on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, Cayetano said the network may be able to broadcast again by next month.

“If everything goes well, God willing, Monday matapos namin on final reading, Tuesday nasa Senado. Kung kaya ng Senado one week, the week after next, latest first week ng June, on the air na ulit,” Cayetano said.

(God willing, we will finish the final reading on Monday, and transmit this on Tuesday. If the Senate can finish in a week, the week after next, then ABS-CBN may be back on air by the first week of June.)

He also believes President Rodrigo Duterte will be fair and approve the provisional license.

“Ang ating Pangulo po ay abogado. Kung ako ang tanungin niya, ang sasabihin ko ‘sir, pang ano lang ‘to eh, pang-due process’,” Cayetano said.

(Our President is a lawyer. If he asks me, I’ll tell him that this is for due process.)

Cayetano said he believes the President would choose fairness and due process in deciding whether to sign the provisional authority into law.

“Hindi ko alam kung ive-veto niya o hindi, pero sa pagkakilala ko sa ating pangulo, abogado eh, fairness, due process,” he said.

(I’m not sure if he will veto it or not, but I know the President, he is a lawyer and he will choose fairness and due process.)

The House of Representatives Committee of the Whole on Wednesday approved a bill that gives ABS-CBN provisional franchise until October 2020.

Cayetano filed the bill, as he cited the need for Congress to focus on addressing the coronavirus crisis and giving it sufficient time to tackle the network’s “controversial” application for a fresh 25-year franchise.

The Senate also said it would “work expeditiously” to pass ABS-CBN’s provisional franchise before Congress adjourns in the first week of June, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

House Bill No. 6732 grants ABS-CBN provisional franchise to operate until October 31, 2020, before Congress deliberates on long-pending bills giving the media giant license to broadcast for another 25 years.

The interim license will “give both the House of Representatives and the Senate [time] to hear the issues being raised for and against the renewal, and assess, with complete impartiality and fairness, whether or not the network shall be granted a franchise for another 25 years.”

“We cannot, in good conscience, sweep the accusations under the rug,” read the bill’s explanatory note.

ABS-CBN’s halt in broadcast last week was the first time it was forced to sign off since the Marcos dictatorship. The shutdown imperils an estimated 11,000 jobs.

It has asked the Supreme Court to stop the NTC shutdown order.

The network, which reached millions of Filipinos through its television, radio and online platforms, said it did not violate the law in its 65 years of service.

News.abs-cbn.com is the general news website of ABS-CBN Corp.

– with reports from Jauhn Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

ABS CBN – TraPOE wants AUTOMATIC EXTENSION of franchises if with pending renewals in Congress

By Pinoy 2022

poe abs voting

Kung si CONFLICT of INTEREST TraPOE ang tatanungin, AREGLADO na ang ABS CBN. Hindi na dapat pang patagalin ang usapan. BIASED talaga. Dahil makupad ang proseso, gusto naman niya na magbigay ng palugid (para hindi masarhan) habang nagiintay na maisabatas ang panibagong prangkisa. Anong pagINHIBIT kaya ang sinabi niya nuong Marso? Conflict of Interst – nanay niya ay artista sa FPJ (na tatay niya) Ang Probinsyano na TOP GROSSING teleserye sa Kapamilya network.

*****************

Senate panel eyes law to ‘automatically extend’ franchises pending in Congress

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

May 12 2020 

 

MANILA – The Senate Committee on Public Services “will look” at the possibility of crafting a bill that would “automatically extend for a certain period” expired franchises provided that a renewal bid is still pending in Congress, the panel’s chair Sen. Grace Poe said Tuesday.

Lawmakers have to solve a “gap in the law” to ensure that networks and their employees are not left in limbo should Congress fail to act on their franchise applications, Poe told reporters in an online press conference.

“Hindi naman natin puwede sabihin na open-ended forever. Baka ang mangyari kasi mawalan kami ng sense of urgency, kaming mga mambabatas,” the senator said.

(We cannot leave it open-ended forever. If we do that, we lawmakers might lose our sense of urgency.)

“So kailangan natin ilagay sa isang batas ang kinakailangan na ‘pag ang prangkisa mo ay mag-e-expire na, puwede kang automatically extended for a certain period,” she said.

(So we have to put in place a law that will automatically extend your franchise for a certain period if it is about to expire.)

The proposed policy has yet to be drafted but it would likely contain “remedial measures” for companies with nearly-expired franchises, Poe said, noting that Congress cannot be compelled to prioritize tackling franchise bills.

The plan followed the shutdown of ABS-CBN Corp’s broadcast operations after its franchise lapsed on May 4. Its bid for franchise renewal has been pending for years.

Sen. Lito Lapid filed a separate bill that would provide provisional licenses to radio stations with pending franchise renewal applications before Congress.

Under Lapid’s Senate Bill No. 1522, the “validity of the provisional renewal shall be until the next adjournment of Congress.”

“Malinaw na may pagkukulang o butas sa ating batas kaugnay sa pagrenew ng prangkisa ng isang kumpanya pero kaya naman itong remedyuhan ng isa ring batas,” he said in a statement.

(It is clear that there is a loophole or gap in our law with regards to franchise renewals, but this can also be remedied by another law.)

Lapid did not explain why his bill was limited to radio stations.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevara first pointed out the legal loophole when Poe’s committee tackled ABS-CBN’s franchise issue in February.

“The DOJ stands by its position that there is sufficient equitable basis to allow broadcast entities to continue operating while the bills for the renewal of their franchise remain pending with Congress,” Guevarra said.

In March, the House of Representatives and the Senate issued resolutions directing the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue a temporary permit for ABS-CBN, whose 25-year franchise renewal bid has languished in the House Legislative Franchises Committee since 2014.

The NTC did not heed Congress’ directive and ordered the Philippines’ largest media network off the air on May 5 without due process.

COVID 19 – QUEZON CITY – 14 day LOCKDOWN in areas of Barangays Bahay Toro, Culiat, Sauyo, Batasan Hills, and Tatalon.

By Pinoy 2022

19 joy no

Walang JOY sa limang barangay sa Kyusi. COVID 19 o GUTOM ang pinagpipiliang landas ng buhay para sa maraming dukha. Nangako naman ang pamahalaang lungsod na sagot nila ang pagkain sa mga naturang mga lugar. Matatao. Masikip. Mahihirap. Informal settlers. Poorest of the poor. Mga botanteng malimit ay binebenta ang kanilang mga boto tuwing halalan upang mapanatili ang mga KURAP na DYNASTY.

**************************

QC to place ‘high-risk’ areas in 5 barangays under ‘special concern lockdown’

Twenty areas in five Quezon City (QC) barangays will be placed under the 14-day special concern lockdown (SCL) starting 5 a.m. on Wednesday (May 13) for having the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases in the city.

The Quezon City government on Tuesday said that initially the SCL will be enforced in high-risk areas in barangays Bahay Toro, Culiat, Sauyo, Batasan Hills, and Tatalon.

As of May 11, Barangay Culiat has the highest number of COVID-19 cases with 37, followed by Barangays Batasan Hills, 29; Bahay Toro, 21; Sauyo, 19; and Tatalon, 17.

However, the city government has yet to identify the high-risk areas in the five barangays.

Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo said these areas were initially chosen by the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) based on the results of community-based testing it conducted through its Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU).

Instead of a total lockdown on the whole barangay, Kimpo said the city government will focus on the high-risk areas of each of these barangays where clustering of COVID-19 cases are numerous.

These high risk areas may be a block, street, or compound within the aforementioned barangays, Kimpo said.

In preventing the spread of COVID-19, Kimpo said another major area of concern is the high density population of places where quarantine protocols are neglected.

He said the QCHD will focus on densely populated locations where COVID-19 transmission is most likely to occur.

Since the containment of the virus is a primary concern, Kimpo said the city government will further strengthen its community-based testing and quarantine efforts.

Kimpo assured the residents of the high-risk areas in the five barangays that the city government will provide them with food and other assistance.

Dr. Rolly Cruz, head of the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (QCESU), said they will conduct intensified testing and monitoring in these areas to ensure that they are COVID-free after the 14-day quarantine period ends.

Kimpo noted that quarantine officers from the newly formed “QC Laban COVID-19” team will help the QCESU perform its job by ensuring the strict enforcement of quarantine rules.

The team is composed of members from the City Health Department (CHD), the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Special Action Force (SAF), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), under Brig. Gen. Alex Luna.

The QCESU will be accompanied by two personnel from the QCPD and three from the AFP, including one regular officer and two reservists.

“More than 200 members of the QCPD-AFP-SAF contingent will undergo training on the process of implementing quarantine rules and monitoring of confirmed and possible COVID-19 cases,” Cruz said.

Aside from ensuring the strict implementation of quarantine processes, Cruz said the quarantine officers are also mandated to conduct information dissemination drives on how to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Mayor Joy Belmonte reiterated her appeal to citizens in the affected areas to fully cooperate with the local government’s effort to combat COVID-19.

**********************

Parts of Quezon City on 14-day lockdown

Janvic Mateo, Marc Jayson Cayabyab (The Philippine Star)
May 13, 2020 

MANILA, Philippines — Starting this week, some areas in Quezon City will be placed under a 14-day “special concern lockdown” due to the high number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Under the special concern lockdown, only authorized persons outside of residence such as frontliners with necessary identification cards will be allowed to leave their homes.

The city government will provide relief goods and supplies to all families within the designated areas.

Rolly Cruz, head of the city epidemiology and surveillance unit, said the decision to place areas under a special concern lockdown is based on the results of community-based testing conducted by the city government.

Urban poor areas and highly dense locations in barangays may also be put on lockdown if there is presence of clustering, according to the city government.

Extensive testing would be conducted in these areas to ensure that the residents are COVID-free after the 14-day period.

City health officials, police officers and soldiers will be deployed in these areas to ensure that quarantine protocols are strictly followed.

They will also be tasked to conduct information dissemination on how to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Joy Belmonte appealed to all residents in areas under special concern lockdown to fully cooperate.

As of Monday night, the Department of Health has recorded 1,589 confirmed cases in Quezon City, with 138 recoveries and 361 deaths.

Meanwhile, 4,175 swabs have so far been collected from residents in the community-based testing of the city government. A total of 1,080 have been tested, with 925 negative and 155 positive.

Caloocan village on EECQ

Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan placed Barangay 156 in Bagong Barrio on lockdown last night due to the number of COVID-19 cases in the barangay.

Malapitan said he placed the barangay on extreme enhanced community quarantine (EECQ) from 8 p.m. until 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

Under the EECQ, residents will no longer be allowed to leave their houses even with quarantine passes, and non-essential businesses will be ordered closed.

The lockdown will also enable city government to conduct contact tracing and swabbing of samples from residents.

Barangay captain Maritess Go promised to provide relief goods to affected residents.

According to the city government’s public information office, Barangay 156 has the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases at 25.

As of yesterday, there were 269 cases of COVID-19 in Caloocan. Of the 269, 203 are active cases, 24 are deaths, and 42 are recoveries.

COVID 19 – NGAWA ng NGAWA. QC NANISI NANAMAN sa SAP distribution na hindi umabot sa deadline

By Pinoy 2022

qc bagong pagasa 2

QC – finger pointing nanaman. Social distancing daw sila maski hindi. Sobra daw kasi ng dami ang dapat bigyan. Yun naman daw ibang COVID 19 patients sa mga ospital sa QC ay taga ibang lungsod naman nakatira.

**********************

QC official blames limited time for failure to meet cash aid distribution deadline

By CNN Philippines Staff

Published May 11, 2020

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 11) – Quezon City is among 369 local government units that failed to meet the deadline to finish distribution of the first tranche of the national government’s cash aid program.

Quezon City Assistant Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo told CNN Philippines that city officials experienced ‘time pressure’ in distributing cash aid to the 377,000 beneficiaries under the government’s social amelioration program.

“Ang binigay sa atin na panahon upang maka-distribute ay maiksing maiksi lamang at yung bilang na dapat mapagbigyan ng ayuda galing sa DSWD ay napakalaki,” Kimpo said.

[Translation: The time given to us to distribute (cash aid) is very short and the number of beneficiaries that must be given aid from the DSWD is huge.]

“At yung deadline yan ay kahapon kaya pinilit talaga natin na ma-meet yung deadline na ito, isa na rito sa Barangay Bagong Pag-asa,” he added.

[Translation: And the deadline was yesterday so we really forced ourselves to meet this deadline, and this includes Barangay Bagong Pag-asa.]

On Sunday, photos circulated online showing beneficiaries lining up at the gate of Barangay Pag-asa Elementary School to receive cash aid under the social amelioration program. While physical distancing protocols were observed inside the school, they were not implemented in the queue.

Kimpo said the local government has been implementing strict physical distancing protocols when distributing cash assistance.

“Kung mayroong mga sandali na hindi nasusunod yung ating social distancing na minimum requirements agad din namang pinaalalahanan lahat na sumunod dito at ginagawa natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya,” Kimpo said.

[Translation: If there are times when social distancing minimum requirements are not observed, we remind them right away to follow and we are doing everything we can.]

As of Monday, Quezon City reported 89.3 percent distribution rate for cash aid beneficiaries, citing challenges on the ground.

Kimpo said barangays have been instructed to strictly follow the list validated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). However, he said some beneficiaries on the list fail to appear, while those not on the list show up trying to collect.

“Kaya meron pong ilang percentage ng bawat payout target rate sa mga barangay na hindi nare-release ang mga amounts na ito at ito yung pinipilit natin mahabol ngayon na binabalikan natin ang mga barangay kung saan hindi 100 percent yung rate,” Kimpo said.

[Translation: So there are a few barangays that have not reached the target payout rate because these amounts are not being released, and these are the barangays we come back to where the distribution rate is not 100 percent.]

DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya earlier said local government units who were not able to beat the deadline can continue to distribute, unless the DSWD demands for the return of the funds.

Quezon City has the biggest population among cities in Metro Manila, and currently has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the region at 1,578.

But Kimpo disclosed that not all of the COVID-19 patients there are residents of Quezon City. He said some are patients who have been admitted to the city’s hospitals but actually reside elsewhere.

“As of May 9, nasa 1,168 yung na-validate talaga ng ating city epidemiology and surveillance unit,” Kimpo clarified.

ABS CBN TV Patrol sa FB, BUMABAGSAK ang manonood (May 7 at 9 million, May 8 at 5 million, May 9 at 2 million, May 10 at 1 million, May 11 at 2 million)

By Pinoy 2022

abs 8.3

Habang hindi makapagpaere ang Channel 2 at DZMM (teleradyo), mapapanood ang TV Patrol sa Facebook, You Tube, cable TV, TV Plus, I Want TV at iba pang mga tinatawag na platforms. Ang Facebook ay social media kung saan malakas ang Kapamilya network sapagkat hawak ng ABS CBN, TV Patrol, It’s Showtime at mga talents kagaya nila Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Angel Locsin at Sarah Geronimo ang mga pinakamalalaking FB fan pages sa Pilipinas.

Nuong araw na nagsara ang Channel 2, May 5, 2020, yung huling TV Patrol show ay nakakuha ng 10.3 million FB views (as of May 11, 2020). Sa format ng FB, patuloy na tumataas ang nakakapanood sapagkat maaring makita ang dati ng mga palabas kaya maaring umakyat ang views sa arawaraw. Nuong May 7 ay wala na ang Channel 2 kaya sa mga alternatibong sites nalang napanood ang TV Patrol. Umani ng 8.6 million FB views as of May 11, 2020. Nuong May 8 bumagsak na ang mga manonood sa FB sapagkat 4.6 million nalang ang views as of May 11. Patuloy pa ang pagsadsad nuong May 9, Sabado, sapagkat 1.6 million nalang ang nanood. Pinakamababa ang bilang ng nanood kahapon, May 10, Linggo, dahil nasa 1.1 million views nalang. Ngayong araw, May 11, Lunes, umakyat muli ang mga nanood na may bilang na 1.9 million views.

Masyado pang maaga magbigay ng malalim na pagsusuri ngunit sa limitadong bilang ng mga araw na nakalipas mapapansin na BUMABABA ang nanonood ng TV Patrol sa Facebook. Mabigat ang magiging implikasyon nito sapagkat ang ADVERTISING RATES ay binabatay sa dami ng mga nanonood. Dahil sa FB nakikita ng lahat ng tao ang mga statistics kagaya ng views, eyeballs (kung ilang tao ang nanonood  ng live), comments, likes at shares, hindi na kailangan ang mga survey firms pa ang gumawa ng pagaaral kung ilan ang nakapanood ng isang partikular na palabas. Sa ngayon wala pang pinalalabas na mga ADVERTISEMENTS sapagkat tinatantsa pa ng network yung kaniyang kakayanang humakot ng mga manonood. Kung mananatili itong mga mabababang numero, siguradong liliit ang kayang hakuting kabayaran ng ABS CBN mula sa mga advertiser ng sabon, shampoo, gamot, toothpaste, pagkain at iba pang mga consumer goods.

Batay sa mga leksyon sa mga nangyari sa ibang bansa, maski makuha pa rin ng ABS CBN ang dati nilang AUDIENCE COUNT, hindi ibig sabihin na sasabay din ang mga advertisers sa paglipat mula mainstream media (radyo, TV at pahayagan) patungong social media. Kung susunod man ang mga advertisers, hindi parenhong laki ng dating budget nila ang gagastosin nila sa makabagong pamamaraan ng pagpapalabas ng kanilang mga commercial.

Nangangahulugan na habang wala sa ere ang ABS CBN ay patuloy silang gagastos sa panahong hindi naman sila makasingil sa mga advertisers. Habang wala sila sa Channel 2 at DZMM, maaring lumipat ang mga tao sa number one na kalaban nila, ang GMA 7. Andiyan pa ang You Tube at Netflix na nakapagbibigay ng kasiyahan sa mga tao.

Sa stock market ay suspendido ang pagbenta at pagbili ng ABS CBN shares of stocks dahil sa Cease and Desist Order na naging sanhi ng pakasara ng Channel 2 at DZMM. Kapag pinayagan muli ang bentahan ng stocks ay maaring lalo pang bumagsak ang share price. Malaki rin ang pagkautang ng ABS CBN sa mga bangko kaya talagang dumadaan ang network sa malaking pagsubok.

Kasalukuyang may petisyon ang ABS CBN sa Korte Suprema para magisyu ng TRO at makapagbukas muli sila, maski pansamantala lang. Ang matagalang solusyon nila ay makakuha ng panibagong prangkisa mula sa Kongreso kung saan ay 2014 pa ay hindi na umusaad ang panukalang batas para sa kanila.

********************

ABSCBN NTC Duterte SolGen Calida Kapamilya FRANCHISE RENEWAL Congress Kongreso House of Representatives Kamara de Representante Mababang Kapulungan Senate Senado Legislative Franchise TRO Provisional Authority to Operate