On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the decision still lies with the government on how it will use the frequencies.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 28) — Shuttered broadcast network ABS-CBN offered its transmission network for government use as the Duterte administration implements a shift to blended learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hours after President Rodrigo Duterte’s rant against the media giant during his State of the Nation Address yesterday, the network said its commitment to help Filipinos continues despite its closure on May 5 and denied franchise application bid.
“In response to the educational thrust of the government in this time of the pandemic, we are offering the use of our transmission network to broadcast educational programs all over the country. We hope to help the government continuously educate students nationwide despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic,” it said in a statement on Monday.
Duterte ordered his Cabinet secretaries to ensure the government can freely use untapped television frequencies to carry out alternative modes of learning as he reiterated that no face-to-face classes will be held without an available COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this month, a lawmaker proposed the government’s temporary use of these frequencies “as those vacated by ABS-CBN.”
Aside from lending its transmission network, ABS-CBN also offered the use of its educational shows to help students. The broadcasting network has produced education programs such as “Sine’skwela,” “Math-Tinik,” and “Bayani,” among others, which were aired on Knowledge Channel.
“While this is not expected to have any business impact to the company, we are hopeful that our network can help in the education of our students nationwide,” it said.
Duterte on Monday said he was a “casualty” of the Lopez family during the 2016 presidential elections. The network has long apologized to him for failure to air some of his campaign advertisements.
The President, who has continuously lashed out at the network and urged the Lopez family to sell ABS-CBN, has insisted on his neutrality over the fate of the media giant’s franchise.
“Sa ngayon po, dedesisyunan muna kung sino po ang gagamit ng mga frequencies dahil nabakante na nga po ‘yan… Pero kung gobyerno po ang gagamit, salamat po at baka naman po pwedeng gamiting ang transmission at mga materyales ng ABS-CBN [For now, we have to make a decision regarding who will use those frequencies since they were vacated… If it’s the government which will use them, then thank you for offering to use ABS-CBN’s transmission (network) and materials],” he said during a press briefing.
Broadcast frequencies may be retained by government or awarded to a new media outlet looking to do broadcasts.
Roque maintained that Duterte kept a “neutral” stance regarding the ABS-CBN franchise, saying that he did not influence how lawmakers voted. He added that it was the House panel, not Malacañang, which denied the network’s franchise renewal bid.
