The bill on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal was referred to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises just last Wednesday. #ABSCBNFranchise

Congress has enough time to tackle ABS-CBN’s franchise application next year before it expires in March, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said in an interview at a sporting event at a mall in EDSA on Wednesday.

“I reiterate that Congress would be fair, we’ll always have a fair hearing. The management of the ABS-CBN knows as well that we will prioritize the budget and revenue bills.”

“But we have more than enough time to tackle it in January, February,” Cayetano said.

But asked if there is assurance that the franchise will be renewed, he said, “Depende sa kalalabasan ng hearing. I cannot preempt the committee or the issues that will be taken.”

Cayetano said he respects the stand of the President Rodrigo Duterte, who has made a pronouncement that the franchise will not be extended.

“As you know he’s the President and he has a stand on issues and we respect that. Having said that, the President also respects the process so let us wait for that. But even the president admits that there has to be a fair process,” said Cayetano.

Earlier, House Committee on Legislative Franchises Chairperson Franz Alvarez said his panel has no scheduled hearings for the bills this year.

The latest bill that is aimed to extend to 25 years ABS-CBN’s franchise was filed by majority lawmakers Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Paulino Salvador Leachon.

Nueva Ecija 2nd District Rep. Micaela Violago, PBA Partylist Jericho Jonas Nograles, Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas, Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting, Laguna 3rd District Rep. Sol Aragones and Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto also filed their respective bills on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.

The bill, an addition to the six other bills on ABS-CBN franchise renewal, was referred to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises just last Wednesday.

In pushing for the passage of the bill, the lawmakers cited ABS-CBN’s support to the development of sports in the country.

They said that ABS-CBN has partnered with University Athletics Association of the Philippines, Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MBPL) Association Inc. and National Collegiate Athletic Association in order to highlight the skills of Filipino athletes.

“By broadcasting the MPBL and similar leagues, ABS-CBN is able to inspire young local athletic talents in provinces in the Philippines that they too can reach their dreams.”

During the weekly press conference of the minority bloc, Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. said members of the group are free to decide whether or not they would support the approval of the franchise renewal.

Abante said if members of the majority will take as an order the President’s pronouncement “it is almost next to impossible to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN.”

But he said the fate of the ABS-CBN is still unknown to date as he noted that authors of the bills seeking franchise extension are members of the majority.

ACT Teachers Rep. Arlene Brosas, also a member of the so-called Makabayan bloc, said at the same press conference that the Makabayan bloc will support the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.