Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — No subsidy was allocated for Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) under the proposed 2027 budget.During the Presidential Communications Office’s budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez told lawmakers this was due to the broadcast network’s status as a “government-owned and controlled corporation considered for privatization.”But he said it may be difficult for IBC’s privatization to be completed within the year.“Medyo nakakalungkot nga po na paglabas po ng aming NEP sa DBM, e zero po ‘yong budget ng IBC-13, umaasa po kami at we pray that this committee would restore at least ‘yong hinihingi po namin from our original NEP,” Gomez said.“Ang dahilan pong ibinigay po sa amin, kasi raw, naka-plano na at naka-programa na ‘yong privatization ng IBC-13, which we are, in the process, of fulfilling that mandate. In fact, next week, I’ll be meeting with GCG to finalize the privatization plan for IBC-13. Unfortunately, marami pa hong workstrings ‘yong required before we can privatize, we’re waiting for the privatization plan of the station itself, we’re asking the DBP to set a valuation for the bidding prize of the station, and third, for the GCG to set the timetable, the calendar for the public bidding. Parang tingin ko po mahihirapang mangyari ‘yon bago matapos ang taon,” he added.“Kung zero po ang budget ng IBC-13, kawawa naman po ‘yong ating mga empleyado pagdating ng January 1st, wala na po tayong mapapa-sweldo sa kanila at hindi na po natin mapapatakbo ‘yong istasyon,” Gomez noted.IBC President and CEO Jose Policarpio Jr. appealed to House members to allocate government subsidy for the broadcast network next year amounting to P480 million.“Kung ipa-privatize po ‘yan, hindi naman po pwede na pagdating ng December 31, off the air na kami. Papaano naman ho ‘yong aming mga contractual obligations?” he said.“From P600 plus million—ang amin hong nire-request is around P480 (million). Ang amin hong COA report ay pwede ko hong ipagmalaki… wala po kaming… nare-red flag,” Policarpio added.He added that funding is needed to make IBC more attractive to buyers.Quezon City 6th District Rep. Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar shared this view as she manifested to provide IBC at least a “transitory budget” before it becomes privatized.“Medyo na-sad talaga marami dito sa Kongreso dahil napansin namin ‘yong IBC-13, zero ‘yong budget niya… CongressTV has been very helpful especially sa amin dito sa Kongreso because this is an avenue for us to show that congressmen are not just sitting down… I strongly manifest to the Committee on Appropriations na sana to give or allocate whether it’s a transitory budget before it will be finally privatized, para at least hindi naman maaantala ‘yong naumpisahan nila at ‘yong mga plano pa. And I really believe na kung gusto rin natin ipa-privatize, dapat may value rin naman ‘yong IBC-13, so dapat maayos pa rin para maganda ‘yong inyong negosasyon,” the lawmaker said.<div>PTV</div>People’s Television Network, Inc. General Manager Lino Cayetano, meanwhile, appealed for increased government subsidy for the state-run PTNI from the proposed P138.38 million under the 2027 National Expenditure Program to P1.7 billion.He noted that the ideal budget for PTNI to be competitive with other commercial media networks is anywhere from P5 billion to P7 billion.PTNI currently reaches 30% of households in the country. But Cayetano said if equipment is fixed, which is part of the P1.7 billion they are requesting, its reach can increase to 42%.  PTNI also plans to expand its social media presence.“At P136 million (2026 budget), I think that is by far, in no way competitive with Channel 2, Channel 7, Channel 5, where a state broadcaster should be…‘Yung P138 million (proposed 2027 budget under the NEP), it will be very very hard for us, and I think it will be a disservice to the Filipino people to allow that budget to pass through, with all due respect po,” Cayetano told the House panel.“Ang developmental communication po, hindi po ito PR, hindi po ito propaganda. It is communicating with the public so you can help transform their lives… I urge, and I plea with Congress to also revisit the whole communications ecosystem, at kung pagbibigyan n’yo rin ho ay tingnan muli ang PTV, ang IBC at lahat ng instrumento ng communication na nasa harap n’yo po,” he added.<div>PIA</div>Of the proposed P2.48 billion budget for the PCO and its attached agency next year, P697.6 million is allocated to the Philippine Information Agency. PIA’s proposed 2027 budget is 32% higher than the current year.Gomez said a “significant part “of the budget will be used for retrofitting the 44-year-old PIA building. He also reported and showed photos of bat infestation in the old building.“(It’s a) bat cave, your Honor,” Gomez said.“Yung building kasi ng PIA… is in a very bad and sad state. The building requires retrofitting. So sgnificant part of PIA budget will go to capital outlay for the proposed retrofitting of the PIA building,” he added.“How can you possibly expect these people to deliver good work result kung takot sila baka tumalikod sila may kumagat sa kanila na paniki,” Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong commented.He also pushed to restore the proposed budget for PCO and its attached agencies to their initial request.“How can we possibly expect our state information tool to not only deliver accurate and timely information, but as well as to combat misinformation, and catch-up with the ever-increasing demand for information, and not to mention also ‘yong pag-innovate ng other media tools, like social media, na may AI pa nga ngayon ‘di ba, without providing them the necessary assistance that they need?” Adiong said.“May I appeal to all members present here that we request that the chairman of the appropriations to reinstate the budget that was initially requested by PCO, including all its attached agencies? I would make it as a formal request, if I can turn it into a motion, we revisit and then once (we reach) the time that it will go back to the mother committee, and then discuss the reinstatement of the initial requested funding of PCO including all its attached agencies,” he added.“We will act on it at the proper time, for sure, because we are all heartbroken with what happened to IBC, getting the zero budget, and I think the Speaker has been made aware of all these predicaments of the bats in  the old building, and IBC,” House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Rep. Queenie Gonzales replied.

No subsidy was allocated for Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) under the proposed 2027 budget.

No subsidy was allocated for Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) under the proposed 2027 budget.

No subsidy for IBC under the proposed 2027 budget; several House members seek funding

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No subsidy for IBC under the proposed 2027 budget; several House members seek funding

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 28, 2026 12:01 AM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

IBC

PIA

PTV

2027 budget

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