PTV4 workers stage protest, demand regularization after decades as CoS

Employees of government television channel PTV4 staged a lightning protest rally Thursday afternoon to air their long-standing grievances on regularization.

Members of the People's Television Employees Association (PTEA) held the demonstration in front of the station along Visayas Avenue to protest what they described as successive reorganizations that stalled the regularization of workers who have remained Contract of Service (CoS) personnel for nearly two decades or more.

"One of us just died yesterday, without being a regular employee," Aljune Urrutia, PTEA board chairman, told the DAILY TRIBUNE.

PTEA president Florante Gacis said the station has been mismanaged due to constant changes in leadership.

"Drivers eventually became cameramen in their long years of service. However, the status of their employment remained the same. CoS pa rin. Napapabayaan dahil sa papalit-palit na leadership (managers)," Gacis said.

He added that hundreds more — especially those in the provinces — suffer the same fate.

Domingo Mortel, a PTEA board director, claimed the TV station also has “ghost projects.”

"Di lang sa flood control ang ghost projects. Dito (PTV4) meron din," Mortel said.

Mortel added that some of the ghost projects they uncovered have been forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman, along with the names of former managers allegedly involved.

"Nakasuhan na namin ang ilan. Di nga lang pwede na pag-usapan ano ang naging kanilang anomalya," he said.

The group appealed to Malacañang to act on their plea, noting that many members are nearing retirement, while others have already died without seeing the benefits and recognition they worked decades for.