WELCOMING REGIONAL NEWS: An extended period of time spent in the countryside recently allowed me to binge on news programs from the regions. One of the best sources for this, I realized, is GMA Network, which regularly carries regional stories on its various platforms, including DZBB and social media.
Like ABS-CBN previously, GMA has a wide network of reporters and correspondents operating in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Every weekend, on Saturdays at 10:35 p.m on GTV Network airs GMA Regional TV Weekend News, a compilation of important stories from the Philippine countryside.
Started on July 27, 2019, the weekend newscast marks a milestone in broadcast history as it makes its local newscasts available to more viewers nationwide.
I look at this as a positive effort in the decentralization of news. It gives importance to stories emanating from outside centric Metro Manila and into the heart of the countryside.
It’s also a good thing that developmental stories are highlighted, providing a break from the usual spate of crime stories that have become a staple in Metro Manila newscasts.
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REGIONAL TV WEEKEND NEWS: On Regional TV Weekend News, news and feature stories are presented by various anchors of local newscasts as Balitang Amianan, Balitang Bisdak, One Western Visayas, and One Mindanao.
Every week, anchors of these programs take turns in bringing the latest news from all over the Philippines straight from their home studio.
There’s the team composed of Cecille Quibod-Castro, Alan Domingo, and Lou Anne Mae Rondina behind RTV flagship newscast in Central and Eastern Visayas, Balitang Bisdak.
CJ Torida, Jasmin Gabriel-Galban, and Joanne Ponsoy of North Central Luzon newscast Balitang Amianan.
Sedfrey Cabaluna, Adrian Prietos, and Kaitlene Rivilla of pioneering Hiligaynon newscast One Western Visayas.
Finally, Tek Ocampo, Sarah Hilomen-Velasco, and Real Sorroche of One Mindanao complete the formidable pool of anchors of GMA Regional TV Weekend News.
Joining them are the various local news teams and stringers in the regions, including GMA RTV’s news team based in Bicol which caters to Southern Luzon viewers.