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City of Batac—To keep Ilocanos informed and empowered, a PTV transmitter station will soon rise at the MMSU campus in this city.
People's Television Network, Inc. (PTNI) and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) officials held a groundbreaking ceremony at Brgy. Quiling Sur, this city on June 14, 2022.
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PTNI General Manager Ms. Katherine Chloe S. De Castro and MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis led the program, at the 500 square-meter lot where they plan to build the PTV tower. Joining them were Ilocos Norte government officials led by Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia A. Marcos.
De Castro said the PTV Ilocos Norte station, which they expect to be operational by December this year, will soon cater to over 400,000 residents in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and Apayao. It will broadcast relevant information and updates about national and regional development projects, especially highlighting that of Ilocos Norte.
“With this station, we will be bringing government information dissemination closer and strengthen our reach in Ilocos region. We bring you the PTV that is at the forefront of news and public information in the country, inspiring Filipinos to be partners in nation building,” De Castro said.
She also emphasized that MMSU, being PTNI’s ally in developing an informed and empowered Ilokanos, will also primarily benefit from said venture, stressing “a 30-minute TV segment will also be provided for the University to feature its technologies and innovations.”
Dr. Agrupis expressed delight in this unfolding project, saying the university continues to be a strong partner for nation-building.
She added the partnership “shall fuel our information dissemination activities, enabling us to reach more people and to advocate our practices and discoveries which are beneficial to our communities.”
Dr. Agrupis also thanked PTNI for giving MMSU an avenue to train its students under the BA in Communication, BS in Development Communication, BS in Electronics Engineering, and other related programs.
“The promise for internship and other learning opportunities for our students helps us sustain academic excellence, one of our ‘ACHIEVE Agenda’”, she expressed.
Marcos, for her part, said the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) lauds the effort of MMSU and PTNI, saying, "I am confident that this project will yield positive outcomes and truly contribute to the efforts of the PGIN to serve the people of Ilocos Norte.”
Improving gov’t reach in North Luzon
The partnership between MMSU and PTNI began after the signing of a memorandum of agreement on May 12, 2021 at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia.
The MOA states that to intensify the dissemination of government news nationwide, the People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTNI) is establishing a broadcast station at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), City of Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Communication and collaboration.
The government-owned network and the university are pooling their resources to install broadcast facilities, infrastructure, and other equipment to establish PTV Ilocos Norte which will primarily cater residents of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and Apayao.
As an initial step, MMSU and PTNI are putting up a PTV transmitter in a 500 square meter university lot in Brgy. Quiling Sur.
The PTNI-MMSU 25-year partnership includes strengthening the broadcast station’s reach through the establishment of the network’s transmitters in the university’s premises.
The university will also have a 30-minute weekly airtime in PTV to disseminate its news and development initiatives to the general public. This will be coordinated by the MMSU’s Office for Strategic Communication. Said TV program will be produced collaboratively with the Communication Faculty of the Department of Languages and Literature (College of Arts and Sciences), Department of Development Communication (College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development) and the Department of Electronics Engineering (College of Engineering).
Students of said departments and other related courses can also have their on-the-job training either at PTNI-Ilocos Norte station or at its main office.
Moreover, MMSU may install information and communication technology equipment in the tower to advance its smart campus initiative.
The university may also use the broadcast tower for its free internet program and other communication needs. (Czarina M. Agustin & Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr)