New PTV GM Toby Nebrida will ‘listen’ to staff opposed to his appointment

Newly- appointed People’s Television Network (PTV) acting General Manager Toby Nebrida takes his oath before Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil in Malacañang on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo from MPC POOL)

MANILA, Philippines — Newly-appointed People’s Television Network (PTV) acting General Manager Toby Nebrida on Tuesday vowed to “work with” and “listen” to employees who continue to support his predecessor.

Nebrida made the pronouncement shortly after taking his oath before Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil in Malacañang.

He replaced veteran broadcaster Ana Puod a year after she was appointed to the position in June 2023.

When asked for a comment on the PTV Employees Association’s appeal to Malacanang to recall its decision to replace Puod, Nebrida promised that he would “work with” the association.

READ: Some PTV staff air support for their former general manager

“I will work with them. Kung may mga agam-agam (if there is any doubt), I will listen. Bahagi ‘yan ng ating lipunan, ng ating demokrasya, ng paghahayag (that is part of our society, of our democracy, of media),” said Nebrida in a chance interview.

“And it’s ironic if I will not, as head of the national broadcasting network, not allow people to air their grievances, legitimate or otherwise,” he explained.

Nebrida’s appointment was first announced by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) last Friday, June 14.

READ: Toby Nebrida is new acting GM of PTV – Malacañang

The PCO did not provide any details why Puod was replaced.

Plans for the future

As the new general manager, Nebrida said he intends to continue improvements within the PTV “and make the network more responsive in fulfilling its mandate as the people’s network.”

This change, he said, includes a smooth and orderly transition from the previous leadership.

Nebrida also aims to improve the capabilities of PTV staff and carry on with the agency’s ongoing reorganization.

“Anything, anything that will make the state, the status of our employees move to a better condition, that’s what we’re going to do,” said Nebrida.

In terms of PTV’s programming, Nebrida said he will assess PTV’s programming.

“The objective being to make the programming of the station, of the network, more responsive, again, to the mandate of being the people’s network,” he said.

Furthermore, Nebrida also wants to take a look at PTV’s current technical capabilities, to find ways to upgrade hardware and infrastructure — should there be a need for it.

“And we hope to be able to engage our partners in the executive, in the legislative and our other stakeholders so that we can fulfill the mandate that was given to us,” he said.