After 22 years, 145 employees of IBC receive retirement pay

MANILA, Philippines — After more than two decades, 145 former employees of state-run Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC), some of whom are grappling with health issues, finally received their retirement pay last Friday.

It took 22 years and 28 management teams before the payment was released, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

However, at least 25 of the retirees of the government media entity, also known as IBC-13, passed away before the benefits were awarded.

About P500 million in retirement pay was given to the former IBC employees, benefitting 200 families.

Most of the remaining retirees are taking maintenance medicines or are facing a host of medical problems while some are “gravely ill,” IBC-13 president and CEO Jimmie Policarpio said in a statement.

Speaking during the awarding ceremony, PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the settling of the claims of IBC retirees was a marching order of President Marcos.

“Addressing the welfare of media workers is one of the cornerstones of his administration and of the PCO. So it is a great honor for me to be able to be part of this much-awaited and much-deserved awarding of benefits to our colleagues in the media,” she said.

“With spirits of thanksgiving, they can now look forward to enjoying their waning years with dignity and pride in having served God, country and people,” the network’s management said.

Under the proposed 2024 budget of the PCO, P250 million was allocated for the unpaid retirement benefits of former IBC-13 employees.

Aside from IBC-13, the PCO’s media arm consists of the People’s Television Network and the Presidential Broadcast Service-Bureau of Broadcast Services.