House Bill No. 11252, introduced by Albay Representative Joey Sarte Salceda, aims to revive the network’s operations after its franchise was denied renewal in 2020.
In the explanatory note, Salceda highlighted that both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue had previously cleared ABS-CBN of violations concerning ownership restrictions and tax liabilities.
The denial of the franchise renewal led to the loss of approximately 11,000 direct jobs and disrupted a key source of news and information during critical periods, including the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to its shutdown, ABS-CBN reached 36 percent of Filipinos through its news and entertainment programming, with a strong regional presence that played a vital role in disaster response and local information dissemination.
Salceda emphasized the importance of reconsidering the previous Congress’s decision, urging lawmakers to approve the bill to address both public information gaps and economic concerns.
The bill reflects a renewed effort to bring back ABS-CBN’s contribution to media, public service, and the economy.
