Congressman Proposes Using ABS-CBN Frequencies for Distance Learning

Congressman Luis Raymond Villafuerte Jr., one of the 70 representatives who voted against ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, filed House Resolution No. 1004, which proposes the government's use of ABS-CBN’s now vacant frequencies for distance learning.

Villafuerte suggests that the Department of Education utilize the radio and television frequencies of the former franchise holder to aid the department’s new mode of learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also suggested that the government could use these frequencies for other purposes, like COVID-19 information dissemination. ‘

“The unused frequencies may also be used for information on COVID-19 prevention and control, risk reduction and preparedness,” Villafuerte said in the resolution.

According to the lawmaker, the proposition will benefit students in areas with little to no Internet connection.

However, there is still a question of how the government will implement this as the transmitters for ABS-CBN’s former frequencies belong to ABS-CBN. The government would have to purchase their own transmitters or pay for ABS-CBN’s.