Lacson Revives Proposal to Merge State TV Networks to Save Costs, Improve Public Service

To save on subsidies while improving public service, why not revive a plan to integrate the government’s two television networks?

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson raised this Tuesday during the deliberations of the 2026 budget of the Presidential Communications Office, including state TV networks People’s Television Network (PTV) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC).

“During the time of then Sec. Sonny Coloma under the presidency of the late President Benigno Aquino III, there was a plan to integrate the (then) three government TV stations and convert the same into a public service broadcaster in the mold of the British Broadcasting Co. This is also budget-related (because) it could save the government from providing subsidy to the stations,” Lacson said. “I think it’s worth studying and considering.”

In Filipino: Lacson, Ibinuhay ang Panukalang Pagsamahin ang State TV Networks para Makatipid at Mapahusay ang Public Service

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Start of the 20th Congress

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Sen. Ping Lacson takes his oath at the start of the First Regular Session of the Senate in the 20th Congress on Monday, July 28. He will be part of the Senate’s conscience bloc along with Sen. Tito Sotto, Loren Legarda, Migz Zubiri, and Risa Hontiveros.

Ping Lacson to be Part of Senate’s Conscience Bloc

When the Senate of the 20th Congress convenes for the first time on Monday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will be part of the Senate’s “conscience bloc.”

Lacson said Saturday that the bloc will also include former Senate Presidents Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Juan Miguel Zubiri, along with Loren Legarda – and possibly Risa Hontiveros.

He said that while the bloc will not likely be part of the majority, he hopes its name will become infectious and encourage the other senators to be conscientious.

“We hope the bloc becomes infectious. We are not saying those who don’t join us do not have a conscience. But we want those with a conscience to share our advocacies. If they don’t believe in our bloc, we are not forcing them to join,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson, Magiging Bahagi ng ‘Conscience Bloc’ ng Senado

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On Senator Legarda’s ‘Stand’ that the CPP-NDF is Not an Enemy of the State

Well said. I could not agree more with the statement of the NTF-ELCAC.*

Senator Legarda is a friend and I respect her opinion but I cannot for the life of me agree with her stand, apparently articulated by her statement that the CPP-NPA-NDF is not an enemy of the state. Simply put, an armed terrorist group — already designated not only by the government of the Republic of the Philippines but also by the European Union, the United States of America and four other countries (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand) — is unequivocally an enemy of the state.

That being said, any attempt to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act is a disrespect to our comrades-in-arms as well as the countless civilians who fell victims to the atrocities of this terrorist group that has lost its ideological principles over the years – they murder, they rob, they extort, they harass and intimidate and worse, indiscriminately.

Having authored and sponsored and almost single-handedly defended the legislative measure in the Senate plenary, as well as in the battle for public opinion in many fora including the media, I will not hesitate to be part of the opposition to thwart moves to amend this law in its substantive form which no less than the Supreme Court has declared as constitutional.

*****

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Finally! End to the 2019 Budget Impasse | March 26, 2019

Sen. Lacson joins colleagues in explaining their proposed solution to end the 2019 budget impasse. Sen. Lacson also answered questions on:
– Manila Water’s decision to waive fees over water supply row
– Chico River loan agreement
– claims of former policeman Eduardo Acierto

Quotes from the interview…
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