ABS-CBN TV Patrol Shutdown: Duterte Government Continues to Prove its Indifference to Filipinos

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In our decades of struggle for our collective rights and aspirations, the media has been an important ally – showing the limelight on issues ranging from low wages, contractualization, workplace violations, as well as cases of harassment, intimidation, and disempowerment that working people face on a daily basis. Imperfect as they are, the free press in the Philippines has and continues to play an important role in making sure that the narratives and experiences of ordinary individuals have a place in the national stage, in our houses and offices.

Today, as ABS-CBN prepares to shutdown its regional TV Patrol programs across the country, the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) is one with media organizations, progressive movements, and ordinary Filipinos in mourning the loss of an important source of information and entertainment that has served the country for decades.

The black screens and static in televisions sets and radios that will soon be the only reminder we have of ABS-CBN is a stark reminder that, in this moment of national emergency, the government of Rodrigo Duterte has chosen to leave millions of us – ABSCBN workers and ordinary people alike – in the darkness. Duterte has chosen to sacrifice the livelihood of thousands of ABSCBN workers (and thousands more around their compounds and operations) for his personal vendetta. He has chosen to sacrifice the access of millions of our fellow Filipunos in far-flung areas to accurate and accessible information. All of this has been done by a government that has so far failed in responding properly to the Covid-19 pandemic that threatens to plunge our country to massive economic hardship.

Instead of showing compassion where it is needed the most, the Philippine strongman has demonstrated the truth: his politics serves his interests and those of his allies.

SENTRO and the thousands of working people affected will never forget the Duterte regime’s assault on our dignity and wellbeing in the midst of a badly mishandled pandemic. We will continue to build our collective power. We will make sure that when the time comes, our unions, communities, and movements will be ready to hold Duterte and his allies accountable for their actions.

Labor Group Bats for Pro-Worker Franchise for ABS-CBN

In today’s committee hearing of the House of Representatives on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal, the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) pressed for the passage a pro-worker franchise for the beleaguered company.

“We stand in solidarity with the more than 11,000 employees, talents, and technical personnel whose livelihood and employment are put at risk by the non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s media franchise,” Benjamin Alvero, SENTRO Campaign Officer, said during the hearing.

“We believe that worker’s welfare should be placed at the center of the discussions on the franchise. To have around eleven thousand workers facing uncertainty in employment in the midst of a global pandemic is immoral, inhumane, and plainly wrong,” Alvero said. “Worker’s security, especially during this moment, should not be risked in addressing perceived problems our legislators have with ABS-CBN,” he added.

Specifically, SENTRO proposed that the franchise bill should contain specific provisions that would “guarantee respect for workers’ and trade union rights, including the workers’ rights to self-organization, collective bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including the right to strike in accordance with law.” It also calls for guarantees that “workers are entitled to full employment, equality of opportunities, security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and a just share in the grantee’s fruits of operation.”

It its submission, SENTRO also calls for a provision that would grant workers’ representation in the company’s board of directors.

SENTRO said in its statement that, “inserting these provisions to the legislative franchise is ultimately beneficial to ABS-CBN.” After all, the company itself admitted that it is not perfect and that it is committed to “assure the public that we strive to maintain the highest level of integrity as we work to deliver services that many Filipinos believe to be important and meaningful” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2020).

At least 300 workers of ABS-CBN are members of the ABS-CBN Rank-and-File Union (ABSCBNRFEU), which is an affiliate of the National Alliance of Broadcast Unions (NABU), which is in turn a member of the the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO).