By Brian Campued
Continuing its mandate as the government’s premiere media partner, the People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTNI) officially opens its new regional center in Cotabato City on Tuesday.
PTV Cotabato will deliver timely and relevant news for and from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), providing a platform for people empowerment and regional development.
Constructed in March 2022, the regional center is expected to reach Maguindanao and parts of Lanao, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato provinces.
“I’m extremely happy to see that we are reactivating and re-energizing PTV’s presence in Cotabato,” PTV General Manager Antonio Baltazar Nebrida, Jr. said in his keynote message, recalling the time when PTV-11 Cotabato was on air during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Additionally, with this new endeavor, GM Nebrida noted that the People’s Television positions itself as a trusted and reliable source of news and information on national and local government efforts—encouraging nation- and community-building efforts “that will make us totally, fully, united Bagong Pilipinas.”
“Your People’s Television Network is ready to explore ways to further inform, inspire, and empower our communities and the region as we all work towards the unifying goal of our beloved President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in creating a Bagong Pilipinas,” he added.
According to PTNI Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Engr. Gil Orense, the establishment of PTV Cotabato symbolizes the Network’s commitment to leveraging innovation in bringing inclusivity, transparency, and connectivity through PTV Digital.
“PTV Digital builds on the legacy of trusted public service established by our strong foundations,” Orense said.
“For BARMM, PTV Digital is more than just a broadcasting platform, it is a vital tool for progress, empowerment, and engagement,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali Matabalao and Bangsamoro Information Office Executive Director Ameen Andrew Alonto expressed gratitude for the establishment of the regional center—hoping that more beautiful stories about the Bangsamoro Region will be told, shedding light on its rich culture, lifestyle, tourism, and people.
To date, PTV operates 16 analog transmitting stations and six digital transmitting stations nationwide, collectively reaching over 90 million Filipinos.
-avds