People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTV) is partnering with state and private universities and colleges across the country to strengthen regional news coverage and produce more localized content.
PTV recently visited Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, to finalize a potential partnership under the network’s regional program with the academic community. Discussions were held with MMSU President Dr. Virgilio Julius Manzano Jr. on areas of collaboration between the university and the network.
The initiative, supported by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), aims to build partnerships with state and private universities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. PTV also recognized CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis for supporting greater collaboration between higher education institutions and the network.
Training will also be a key component of the program. PTV plans to conduct seminars and hands-on training for students in mass communication, broadcasting, journalism, electronics and communications engineering and related fields, giving them practical exposure to broadcast production and newsroom operations.
The partnerships will also tap universities’ knowledge of their communities, languages, and local issues to strengthen reporting and public-service content across PTV’s regional platforms. Through these partnerships, PTV aims to develop a network of more than 100 trained mobile journalists who can contribute stories and content from communities across the country.
Through the initiative, PTV aims to bring government programs and services closer to communities while giving regional stories greater visibility on the national stage. The university partnership program is targeted to begin rolling out in the fourth quarter of 2026, with full implementation envisioned by early 2027.
PTV currently operates regional hubs in Davao and the Cordillera, producing localized content including Bisaya and Ilocano programming.
Under the New PTV Roadmap, the network aims to further strengthen its regional presence and develop studios and content hubs in Ilocos, Bicol, Calabarzon, Cebu, and Iloilo. Regional content is envisioned for distribution across free-to-air and digital television as well as social media platforms, allowing PTV to reach audiences wherever they are.
The expansion forms part of PTV’s long-term effort to build a stronger regional news network that reflects the voices, issues, and stories of communities across the country. (PR)
