PH, Japan tie up for PTV digitalization

MANILA -- Sharing the same goal of fully modernizing public broadcasting in the region, Japan and Philippines' respective public communications agencies on Jan. 3 have committed to digitalize the Philippines’ state television.

Television viewers will now have a much better and clearer reception of the Philippines' government television network, People's Television 4 (PTV4), after Wednesday's ceremonial switch-on of the network's Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcast (DTTB), migrating from being analog to fully digital.

Japan Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Seiko Noda and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar led the ceremonial switch-on at PTV4's station in Quezon City along with Department of Information and Communicaton Technology Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. and other PCOO officials.

Noda noted that having digital broadcasting facilities, where citizens have free access, particularly during times of calamities and emergencies, will greatly improve lives.

For Andanar’s part, he said, the modernization program is one of the most meaningful projects under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. 

Andanar said the magnitude of the technological infrastructure improvement is as comprehensive as connecting more than 70 provinces and more than a thousand cities and municipalities in the country. 

Through this, he said, the administration's goal to bring the government closer to its people is now achievable more than ever.

Dino Apolonio, network general manager of PTV, vowed that the station will do its part as a responsive digital network.

PCOO targets that the Philippines reach full digitalized terrestrial broadcasting by 2030.

PTV4 sees the digitalization as a model for other Asian countries to replicate, particularly in investing in the enhancement of state-owned media. (PNA)