NTC to allow ABS-CBN Corp. to operate beyond May 4

ABS-CBN Corp. will be allowed to continue its broadcast operations even after its franchise expires on May 4, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) clarified Tuesday.

In a legislative hearing, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said it will heed the advice of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and both houses of Congress to allow the company to continue broadcasting.

"The NTC will follow the latest advice of the DOJ and let ABS-CBN continue operations based on equity," he said, noting that the NTC will likely issue a provisional authority to the broadcast company.

This comes as the NTC said it sought advice from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the matter through a letter sent on February 12, 2020.

It clarified the exact expiration date of the current ABS-CBN franchise, and if the company can continue operations upon such expiration.

"Based on the foregoing discussion, there is sufficient equitable basis to allow broadcast entities to continue operating while the bills for the renewal of their respective franchise remain pending with Congress," Cordoba said, quoting the DOJ. —KBK, GMA News