MANILA, Philippines – Quezon City 5th District Representative Alfred Vargas has filed a bill seeking to create the People’s Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) to replace state television station PTV-4.

Under House Bill (HB) Number 2143 or the “People’s Broadcasting Corporation Charter,” Vargos envisions a state television network that meets international standards.

In his explanatory note, Vargas said the proposed measure provides for the following:

• Inclusion of radio and television broadcasting in the PBC charter
• Independence of the corporation
• Broadcast hubs in the Visayas and Mindanao
• Assurance of annual appropriations for at least 10 years
• Transfer of the Philippine Broadcasting Service-Bureau of Broadcast Services (Radyo ng Bayan) to the corporation 

These are consistent with President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address, when he asked Congress to pass a law instituting the PBC. (READ: The pet bills of President Duterte)

“Nevertheless, with its plans to rehabilitate PTV stations in other provinces nationwide, and to continue its modernization program to be at par with that of the BBC of UK, NHK of Japan, PBS of USA, amongst others, there is an urgent need to update the existing PTV charter,” Vargas said

Under HB 2143, the PBC would be given the franchise and the license to operate “to serve primarily as a vehicle for the State for purposes of education, information, entertainment, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports in order to foster national pride and identity and a culture of disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation.” 

The PBC would also provide air time to “legitimate” people’s organizations and non-governmental organizations to promote their respective projects and advocacies. 

Vargas wants the PBC to have an authorized capital stock of P10 billion “divided into P10 million shares with par value of P1,000 per share, which shall be subscribed in full by the government.” 

Congress would then be mandated to appropriate PBC a subsidy not more than its annual net earnings the previous year until 2027.

The PBC would also be allowed to generate its own funds from advertising and airtime sales in accordance with the policies and rates set forth by its board, subject to existing laws. 

“All fees or other revenues collected or received by PBC shall be retained by it and utilized solely for its operations and capital expenditure program,” Vargas said.

The management and employees

Under HB 2143, the President would appoint 7 members of the PBC  board – 3  from the government sector, 3 from the private sector including one with at least 10 years of experience in broadcasting, and one from the educational sector. 

They would each have a one-year term, subject to reappointment. The board would appoint the chairperson and general manager from among themselves. 

The board members must have “proven and unquestionable probity, integrity, honesty, impartiality, reputation, and with knowledge of the broadcast industry.” They should not be in any way connected with any other broadcasting corporation or hold any position that would be in conflict with their role in PBC. 

Under the proposed bill, the board  would recommend to the President nominees to the 7-member advisory council. The body would recommend policies on the PBC’s operations, programming, broadcasting, technical and creative production, and development and management.  – Rappler.com