Legarda Hails Approval on Final Reading of Bill Seeking Funds for Nat’l TV

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA HAILED THE APPROVAL ON THIRD READING OF SENATE BILL 3316 OR THE PROPOSED “ACT REVITALIZING THE PEOPLE’S TELEVISION NETWORK, INCORPORATED” WHICH WILL AMEND THE PEOPLE’S TELEVISION (PTV) CHARTER.
Legarda, a former broadcast journalist, said that there is a dire need to amend the charter because the PTV4 has no allocation from the government and is not allowed to receive commercial revenues.
“We need to resuscitate our national television because it has a great potential, not for propaganda, but for information dissemination of the advocacies of our various departments of government. They have a ten-year-old charter which would not allow them to sell commercial spots for revenues and they are presently seeking the amendment of that charter to allow them to sell commercial spots for their viability,” she said.
Senate Bill No. 3316 seeks to amend the PTV Charter to allow the network to generate funds from advertising and airtime sales and the same shall be utilized by PTV solely for its operations and capital expenditure. The network shall also be allowed to adopt other measures that will help restore the viability of the network operations.
“The passage of this measure is very important as it addresses the urgent need to regenerate and improve the information mechanisms of government,” Legarda concluded.