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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider IBC-13 employee-turned-congresswoman in tears after learning network will get zero funds in 2024

IBC-13 employee-turned-congresswoman in tears after learning network will get zero funds in 2024

Published Aug 30, 2023 12:57 am

At A Glance

  • OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino couldn't help but turn emotional during the budget hearing of Presidential Communications Office (PCO) after she learned that state-run network IBC-13--a company she previously worked at nearly a decade--won't be funded next year. 

IMG-cbc431255de4e9442f6ee2e95ab6562e-V.jpgOFW Party-list Rep. Marissa "Del Mar" Magsino (Screenshot from Facebook live)

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino couldn't help but turn emotional during the budget hearing of Presidential Communications Office (PCO) after she learned that state-run network IBC-13--a company she previously worked at for nearly a decade--won't be funded next year. 

Discussed by the House Committee on Appropriations Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 29 was the proposed 2024 budget of the PCO, which oversees the operation of IBC-13. 

The solons found during the presentation of the budget that the network, which currently has 134 employees, won't get a single centavo under the P5.768-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) forc 2024. 

"Gusto ko pong sabihin that I sympathize with you, dahil nanggaling po ako sa media (I want to say that I sympathize with you since I came from the media industry). I started with RPN-9 for one year, nine years sa (at) IBC-13," Magsino said during her interpellation of the PCO panel. 

"The OFW Party-list will fully support yung PCO budget niyo po dahil alam ko po na kayo po yung naghihirap at inihahatid niyo po ang news ng buong Pilipinas kasama ang ating mahal na Presidente," she said. 

(The OFW Party-list will fully support your PCO budget since I know that you do the difficult task of reporting the news from the entire Philippines including our beloved President.) 

A tearful Magsino then added, with her voice cracking: "Dapat lang po na kayo ay magkaroon ng tamang budget. And I hope na ang IBC-13, wag maging zero (You deserve to get a propose budget. And I hope that IBC-13 won't get zero budget). She ended her interpellation afterward. 

IBC President Jose Policarpio Jr. told the appropriations panel that the network needs a budget of P1.245 billion for next year. This will cover for unpaid retirement benefits (P500 million), personnel services (P139.4 million), capital expenditure to comply with the law to shift from analog to digital (P523 million), and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures (P83 million). 

Reportedly, no funds were allocated to IBC-13 for 2024 because as far as the national government is concerned, the asset is up for privatization. 

Magsino said earlier in the hearing that during her time with IBC-13, the network had "many commercials" and thus, "we were able to stay on". But that isn't the case now. 

"Nalaman ko na po ang problema, bakit kasi po pag sinasabing government network, napakahirap pong pumasok ang ating mga sponsors. Why? Because yung ating mga equipment ay obsolete," the assistant minority leader said. 

(Now I know the problem. Why is it that government networks find it hard to get sponsors? It's because our equipment are obsolete.) 

"Yung ating mga tauhan, hindi po talaga napapasweldo ng maayos. And to think, na dapat nga po tayo naaalagaan (And our personnel don't get paid properly. And to think, we should be taken care of)," she added.

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ibc-13 Marissa Magsino
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