THE House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, on Monday ended the budget briefing of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), including its attached agencies, urging officials to consider the shift to digital broadcasting to ensure sustainable operations.
Under its proposed budget in the National Expenditure Program, the PCO proper is requesting P713.316 million; P256.561 million for Radio Television Malacañang; PHP439.639 million for the Philippine Information Agency; P146.897 million for the News and Information Bureau; P21.989 million for the National Printing Office; P79.889 million for the Bureau of Communications Services; P492.389 million for the Philippine Broadcasting Service; and subsidy for the People’s Television Network worth P215.257 million.
Newly appointed PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez said the proposed P2.151 billion budget shall be used to communicate to the public Bagong Pilipinas-related activities, media coverage of presidential engagements and communication campaigns for the executive branch.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong noted the 30% reduction in the proposed budget for the operation of People’s Television Network or PTV-4. He suggested that PTV-4 be converted into a public broadcast station to better combat fake news and provide quality information, highlighting the network’s current operational difficulties as a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC).
PTV-4 Acting General Manager Antonio Nebrida Jr. explained that as a GOCC, the network generates its own revenue, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) only partially supports them.
He nonetheless admitted to Adiong the challenge of generating revenue for the station.
“There is some difficulty insofar as generating revenues to fully sustain the operations of the network. That is the reason why we submit a request for supplemental budget,” Nebrida said.
Chavez emphasized that for PTV-4 to become commercially viable, it must shift from an old-state media mindset to a competitive, multimedia platform.
He stressed the importance of earning revenue independently, leveraging government communication components, and focusing on digital platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Chavez outlined his vision for PTV-4 and IBC-13 to behave like competitive broadcasters, emphasizing digital transformation and access to state information as key to this paradigm shift.
Lawmakers expressed support to proposals seeking to augment the 2025 budget of the government’s lead communication arm.
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