Chronicle

PNoy approves privatization of IBC-13

PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III has given the go signal for the privatization of government-sequestered Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13), on the recommendation of the Governance Commission for GOCCs (government owned and controlled operations).

In its press release, the GCG said that IBC-13’s privatization is necessary in view of its functions’ overlapping with those of state-owned network PTV-4. The GCG said that PTV-4’s operations are “already sufficient to address market failures in the private broadcast industry such as providing programs with social value but (which) are not considered profitable.”

The privatization of IBC-13 also follows the recent revitalization of PTV-4 pursuant to Republic Act No. 10390. It is expected to help increase PTV-4’s capital.

A public bidding for the privatization of the network will be announced later. IBC-13 has an estimated floor price of PHP 1.877 billion.

IBC-13 started in 1960 as the privately-owned Inter-Island Broadcasting Corporation. It was sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in 1986 as part of the government’s recovery of ill-gotten wealth during the Marcos regime.

Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists

The International Women’s Media Foundation is inviting women journalists to apply for a grant from the Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.

The grant aims to support women journalists in covering under-reported but critical global issues, developing critical skills and field-based expertise, and launching news projects.

Applicants must have at least three years of professional experience in journalism. Team applications will be considered, provided that the submission is from a woman journalist and at least 50 percent of the team are women.

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An annual total of $230,000 will be provided by the IWMF in two rounds of grants for this year. The first round of applications ends on February 16.

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