By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
Antonio Baltazar Nebrida Jr. on Tuesday took his oath as the new general manager of People’s Television Network (PTV) and vowed to make the state-run television network more responsive and capable.
Nebrida, a former PTV reporter, took his oath before Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Sec. Cheloy Garafil, replacing veteran broadcast journalist Analisa Puod.
PTV is the government’s flagship television network, under the supervision of the PCO.
Before his new appointment, Nebrida served as the spokesperson of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) during the term of the late DMW Sec. Susan Ople.
“I’m just really going home,” Nebrida told Palace reporters.
“If I remember from my time, the term was back to barracks. Anyway, I’m just really coming back to my old home,” he said.
Nebrida said he will continue the “improvements and making the network more responsive in fulfilling its mandate as the People’s Network.”
He said he will focus on three points: capacity building of PTV’s personnel, improving programming, and upgrading its equipment and infrastructure.
“And we hope to be able to engage our partners in the Executive, in the Legislative, and our other stakeholders so that we can fulfill the mandate that was given to us. Again, I will go back to my first statement. It’s with great humility and gratitude that I thank the President for this appointment,” Nebrida said.
As to the reported appeal of some members of the PTV Employees Association to Malacañang to recall its decision to replace Puod, Nebrida said he respects their opinion and vowed to listen and “work with them”.
“Kung may mga agam-agam, I will listen. Bahagi ‘yan ng ating lipunan, ng ating demokrasya, ng paghahayag,” he said.
“And it’s ironic if I will not, as head of the National Broadcasting Network, allow people to air their grievances, legitimate, or otherwise,” he added.
