JV Ejercito laments state-run TV stations’ woes, budget cuts
October 10, 2022
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday
expressed his dismay over the dilapidated facilities, outdated equipment, and
lack of retirement benefits among state-run broadcasting stations.
Presiding over the hearing of the Senate
Committee on Finance on the proposed budget of the Office of Press Secretary
(OPS), Ejercito said he himself witnessed the “sad state” of the government
broadcasting stations Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) and
Peoples’ Television Network (PTV-14).
"Talagang nakakalungkot din yung
situation. This is the first time I chaired the OPS hearing [...] Napansin ko
rin 'yan, yung bihirang panahon na ako'y nainterview sa IBC-13 at PTV-14, yung
kagamitan pati yung mga tao nila, antique na rin. Parang panahon pa ng ano,
nandoon na sila. It's really sad, a sad state," he said.
The 2023 National Expenditure Program proposed
a zero budget for the IBC-13. Despite assurances from the House of
Representatives that funds would be realigned to support IBC-13, the House
version of the proposed 2023 national budget allocated no funds for the said
government broadcasting station.
Ejercito said he was particularly concerned
about these impending budget cuts, arguing that this could affect the
distribution of retirement benefits among eligible employees of state-run
broadcasting stations.
"Nakakalungkot itong budget na ito,
listening to the predicament of our employees, the state of PTV-14,
IBC-13," he said.
IBC-13 president and chief executive officer
Hexilon Alvarez said the government broadcasting station was only able to cover
around 38 percent of all employees entitled to retirement benefits.
The government broadcasting station had to
seek assistance from the Pension and Gratuity Fund, a revolving fund that can
cover government-owned and -controlled corporations that can longer pay for
their employees’ retirement benefits, he said.
“Ikinalulungkot ko po na simula 2009, hindi po
nakayanan ng IBC 13 na sagutan yung iba pong retirement benefits [...] Kaya
kami po ay humihingi ng tulong sa Senado,” he said.
“Matagal na pong naglalanguish and
nagsasqualor ang ating mga retirees, roughly around 130 of them,” he added.
Ejercito vowed to discuss the OPS’ requests
with his colleagues from the Senate Committee on Finance.
"This committee will try to support yung payment
nung retirement benefits because that's due to them. And if we can include
probably a special provision under your budget for that purpose para for once
and for all, finish this," he said.
