MANILA, Philippines?While agreeing to Malacanang?s plan to privatize television networks RPN-9 and IBC-13, a member of the House of Representatives said there should be transparency in the process to ensure that the government makes the most out of the sale.

Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said government should be transparent in every in selling the networks to make sure that its proceeds go to government coffers and not to private pockets.

Evardone, chairman of the committee on public information in the House, said he hopes that the plan will push through this time, citing that previous attempts have not been successful.

?All past administrations have also vowed to pursue privatization but because of their desire to beef up their propaganda machinery, privatization [of these assets] became non-priority,? he said. ?There must be transparency in the privatization process.?

The neophyte lawmaker said the government can keep one network, the NBN-4, for its information dissemination needs, but should do away with the other two networks, to stop their bleeding.

He said government-run networks usually survive through government subsidies.

He added that NBN-4 should focus its programming on nation-building and promotion of culture and history, and not so much on politics.