Grover C. Magnus 
MANILA, Philippines – A dozen regional prime-time ABS-CBN news programs will air their latest news bulletins this week, the latest victims of a House panel’s refusal to grant a new franchise to the media giant.
ABS-CBN Corp. announced on Wednesday that it would end 12 of its regional television patrol programs, which have reached regional audiences for more than three decades.
The following news programs have aired on 21 regional stations over the past 30 years in news presented in their own local dialects, ABS-CBN said, and they will air their latest show this week:
- TV Patrol North Luzon (Baguio, Dagupan, Ilocos, Isabela and Pampanga)
- Bicol TV Patrol (Naga, Legazpi)
- Palawan TV Patrol
- Southern Tagalog Television Patrol (CALABARZON)
- TV Patrol Central Visayas (Cebu, Dumaguete, Bohol)
- TV Patrol Negros (Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental)
- TV Patrol Panay (Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras)
- TV Patrol Eastern Visayas (Samar, Leyte)
- TV Patrol Northern Mindanao (Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental Lanao Del Norte, CARAGA, Dipolog)
- TV Patrol South Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN, Cotabato)
- Southern Mindanao TV Patrol (Davao)
- Chavacano TV Patrol (Zamboanga)
The shutdown of these news programs comes as community newspapers are forced to fold or cut pages to combat the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Philippine Press Institute, the national association of newspapers, community journalists bear the brunt of the loss of media livelihoods caused by the pandemic.
“At least eleven publications (three from Mindanao, seven from Luzon and one from the Visayas) have temporarily ceased to be printed and have since gone digital”, he said on his website in June.
“Two multi-award-winning community newspapers, Baguio Midland Courier and Visayan Daily Star have resumed publication of print editions but with a reduced circulation and number of pages,” he also indicated.
In its statement on Wednesday, ABS-CBN said: “This unfortunate development is the latest service affected by the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise by the House of Representatives on July 10, which also led to the shutdown of ABS-CBN Regional operations. “
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Other affected community development initiatives
“ABS-CBN Regional serves Filipinos in remote areas not reached by other television signals. But more than disseminating breaking news, regional ABS CBN news teams are also the first to bring aid and relief to disaster-stricken communities, ”said Tata Sy, regional manager of ABS-CBN.
The network also said that ABS-CBN Regional would also close the curtain on its nine morning shows. Public service initiatives in health, education, environment and livelihoods such as the “Grand Halad sa Kapamilya” have not been spared either.
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Sy said part of ABS-CBN’s regional mission, inspired by President Emeritus Gabby Lopez, has always been to build proverbial bridges to connect individuals and communities to donors, or to relay issues to government. . “In its own way, ABS CBN Regional has helped build a nation,” she added.
The network announced last month that it would increase investment in other businesses such as international licensing and distribution, digital and cable segments, and syndication of content across various streaming platforms.
The National Telecommunications Commission first ordered the shutdown of ABS-CBN on May 5, a day after its legislative voting rights expired as lawmakers sat on bills pending for renewal. .
The network ran to the SC to stop the implementation of the NTC’s cease and desist order, but before the High Court resolved their petition, the network was slapped with another CDO and eventually lost his candidacy for a new franchise in Congress.
On Tuesday, the SC voted unanimously to reject ABS-CBN’s petition, saying it was now moot.
