Every evening, since July 10, employees and artists of ABS-CBN have been converging in front of its Quezon City station to conduct a noise barrage to protest the decision of Congress to deny the network’s bid for franchise renewal.

On July 18, ABS-CBN supporters held a caravan from Makati and converged in front of the station in Quezon City. Similar protest actions were organized by employees and supporters in the cities of Cebu, Olongapo, Bacolod, Tacloban, Da­vao, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.

Lawmakers from the Makabayan Bloc, who authored one of the ABS-CBN franchise bills, participated in the protest actions. Members of the Na­tio­nal Uni­on of Jour­na­lists of the Phi­lip­pi­nes, Alter­mid­ya, Pho­tojour­na­lists’ Cen­ter of the Phi­lip­pi­nes Inc., Ki­lu­sang Ma­yo Uno, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations and other sectoral groups that advocate press freedom joined the mobilizations. More than 500 journalists from various media organizations also expressed their support for the protest.

Approximately 11,000 workers are set to lose their jobs or receive lower salaries. The company already closed down their regional stations in various provinces, as well as its stations which provide free television and radio broadcast services. Aside from regular employees, workers who are outsourced by ABS-CBN from third-party manpower agencies are also set to lose their jobs, as well as small entrepreneurs who operate their businesses around the station in Quezon City. Today, ABS-CBN is only allowed to air its programs in the internet and through cable channels.