If it could pass the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act in a matter of days, Congress can to the same on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) pointed this out now that the media giant has been forced to stop broadcasting operations after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order on Tuesday (May 5).

“Congress may quickly deliberate and independently vote on the pending ABS-CBN franchise bills as it had passed laws within days, the latest of which is the Bayanihan Law,” the IBP said in a statement on Wednesday (May 6).

“Delay is not good governance,” it pointed out.

It can be recalled that, after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was implemented in mid-March, Congress passed the Bayanihan Law which President Rodrigo Duterte signed on March 24 as a response to the threat of the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19).

With this, IBP also believes the NTC could have accorded ABS-CBN “a provisional permnit to operate as it has allowed others similarly situated to continue operating.”

Aside from Congress, the IBP also called on concerned government officials and offices to act swiftly concerning the network’s franchise.

“The courts may resolve related cases pending before them and those that may be brought to them,” it said.

“Politicians and government officials may coordinate better to pursue and inspire real reconciliation as well as principled progress and genuine peace in our land which we sorely need in these challenging times,” it added.