ABS-CBN News In Free TV A Big Loss During Calamity? Netizens React

With the wide reach of ABS-CBN news that’s supposed to be useful in times of calamity, netizens expressed their sentiments amid Typhoon Ulysses.

ABS-CBN NEWS – Many people online express their sentiments as how ABS-CBN in free TV is supposed to be useful in times of calamity.

Last May, the ABS-CBN network went off air after a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was released and officially stopped operating last July 10. This is after the House junked their application for a fresh 25-year franchise after receiving an overwhelming 70 votes from lawmakers.

During the Typhoon Rolly which mostly hit the Bicol Region where a storm surge was raised to signal number 5, people were accordingly not informed much, especially those living in far-flung areas. The biggest media company in the Philippines comes with 35 regional television stations, 16 FM stations, and 3 AM stations which can ultimately reach places that other networks cannot.

However, the network closed down their regional channels and now only uses their digital platforms to reach people and update them with current news and events. And now, with the huge aftermath Typhoon Ulysses has left, netizens online expressed their sentiments as some people seemingly underestimated the calamity.

Check out their sentiments below:

One netizen said that it according take years for other networks to perform what ABS-CBN has done for “bridging the information gap between policy makers and the public during calamities”.

Other news organizations are heroically performing important work, but it will take years to replace ABS-CBN in the role of bridging the information gap between policy makers and the public during calamities, thanks to its infrastructure and sheer muscle memory of its personnel.
— Dax (@daxlucas) November 12, 2020

Politician Pilo Hilbay stated some factors why the country has underestimated the typhoon and one of it is ABS-CBN capacity to inform the whole nation through its wide reach

Why did we seem to have underestimated #UlyssesPH?

1. #RollyPH was strong, but spared Metro Manila, w/c made people complacent.
2. Nothing compares to ABS-CBN's nationwide ability to inform the nation of impending calamities.
3. The absence of a President to warn the nation.
— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) November 11, 2020

Even Vice President Leni Robredo said that there were complainants who confessed that they were not warned enough about this, hence, the numerous people stranded and trapped in their homes due to flood.

Spent the entire night answering calls for rescue in Bicol. Many people trapped by floodwaters inside their houses. Complaints that they were not warned enough. Same thing is happening here now -Marikina, Rizal, etc.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 12, 2020

Musician Jim Paredes stated, “No big fundraisers to help communities recover. The country is suffering.”

https://twitter.com/Jimparedes/status/1326661769016668160