Tulfo calls for security of tenure, benefits for PTV 4 employees

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday called on the People's Television Network Incorporated, commonly known as PTV 4, to provide security of tenure and additional benefits to its employees.

Citing the exemplary role of media in providing accurate and timely information to the public, Tulfo said the PTV 4 also plays an important role in the image-building campaign of the government.

However, he lamented that the role of PTV won't be compensated if the Presidential Communication Office has insufficient budget.

Hence, he expressed full support to the PCO's budget proposal of P1.79 billion, wherein a huge chunk is to be allocated to the PTV 4, a government-owned and controlled corporation, that currently operates under the supervision of the government's communication arm.

"The role played by the PCO is important because through the PCO, all the policies, all the things that our government wants to convey to the people come from the PCO and they are disseminated to the public through the government radio and TV, and that includes the PTV 4," Tulfo said in Filipino.

Tulfo said the PTV 4 employees are not well-compensated and lack security of tenure.

"When I was at the PTV 4, as anchor/reporter, the situation of the employees there was miserable. They are contractual employees and if you are contractual, anytime you can be terminated because you don't have security of tenure," he added.

During the budget hearing last year, Tulfo previously promised to support the improvement of facilities and reorganization of the PTV 4.
He also called for the regularization and salary increase for PTV4 employees.