Onus is on Congress

AN INFRASTRUCTURE-oriented think-tank warned that ultimately, the President has the final say on whether a giant television network will be allowed to operate after the lapse of its franchise on March 30, despite assurances from senior congressmen and senators that the network can continue its broadcast beyond the term of its franchise.

Indeed, this scenario is not farfetched. While the strong views of congressmen and senators on a franchise holdover are very comforting to the network, its employees and advocates of press freedom, we should be reminded that the President can still order the uniformed personnel and other agencies to literally and figuratively shutdown the network after March 30. With no favorable presidential pronouncement in sight, the public should brace for this unfortunate prospect.

So what can be done?

Wide public support remains key to stop an escalation from happening. Legislators’ assurances are compelling but they should also convince the President to take a similar position. Without convincing the President, the legislators’ assurances of a franchise holdover carry no weight. Will we see them at the gates of the TV network when the President’s proverbial tanks come crashing the network? Probably not.

But the swelling of public support for the network could convince the highest levels of government to reconsider.

Also, the Senate has a majority supporting the franchise renewal, with no less than Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri announcing it. The Palace should take notice that the Senate is breaking rank from the President and Congress.

In the end, the onus is on Congress and no one else. Citing the lack of time or justifying the delay due to other important concerns is an absolute cop-out. As in all legislative measures, pag gusto may paraan, pag ayaw maraming dahilan. If they feel that the franchise should be rejected, let the sword fall where it should, right? If Congress really wanted to hear and decide on the franchise application, nothing in the world could have prevented it.

In fact, Congress approved six broadcast franchise renewal in 2019. Four of these broadcast franchises are national in scope. Given these facts, it is very hard to justify any further delay in deliberating the TV network’s franchise.

More importantly, hasn’t Congress noticed that the Palace has already thrown it under the bus when it continues to disavow any responsibility for the current franchise mess?