Press Release - Robin Ready to Support PTV Revitalization to Fight Fake News

Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla is prepared to help revitalize the People's Television Network (PTV) by way of support for its employees and facilities, so it will have the needed tools to fight fake news.

Padilla, who chaired on Thursday the Senate hearing on the issues involving PTV, said he is looking for ways to address the problems at PTV, including the modernization of equipment and regularization of employees.

"Sa ngayon, lamang na lamang sa atin ang fake news. Kailangan nating labanan ito. Kailangan meron tayong medium na gamitin para malabanan ang kalokohan ng fake news na yan ang nakikita ko para labanan ang kalokohan na ito ang PTV (For now, fake news is very prevalent. We need to fight it with a powerful medium and I see PTV as that medium)," he said.

"Dapat kayo mag Number 1 kasi government kayo. Wala akong alam na bansa na di sinusuportahan ang government channel, lalo noong panahong sangkaterba ang fake news dapat kayo namamayagpag. Suportahan namin kayo pagdating ng budget hearing. Siguraduhin naming nandoon kami (PTV should be Number 1 - I don't know of any country that does not support its government channel. You should be at the forefront of the fight against fake news. We will support you in the budget hearing, you can be sure of that)," he added.

Padilla gave the assurance after PTV General Manager Analisa Puod detailed her ideas to revitalize the network, including cultural, educational, sports and entertainment programs. Puod also said they are looking into possible collaborations with entities like ABS-CBN for their programming.

For his part, Padilla suggested that PTV produce teleseryes on Philippine history. "Ako tutulong ako pero sa parte na merong future at meron akong nakitang future sa teleserye (I will help you in this regard because I see a future with teleseryes)," he said.

Also, Padilla said they need to find a way to regularize PTV's employees, after learning that it has only 120 regular employees and 500 Contract of Service (COS) employees - with the last regularization occurring 20 years earlier.

"Kawawa ang mga tao (I sympathize with the employees)," aniya.

Handang handa si Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla na tulungan ang