Filipinos living outside Metro Manila across the country will lose a trusted source of local TV news and public service as ABS-CBN pulls the plug on the 12 local TV Patrol programs, which will have their final newscasts on Friday.
This unfortunate development is the latest service affected by the denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise by the House of Representatives last July 10, which also led to the closing of ABS-CBN Regional’s operations.
ABS-CBN Regional has been producing various local TV Patrol editions for airing on the network’s 21 regional stations for over three decades, serving viewers in the provinces with fast-and-reliable local and national news presented in their own dialects. These are TV Patrol North Luzon (Baguio, Dagupan, Ilocos, Isabela, and Pampanga), TV Patrol Bicol (Naga, Legazpi), TV Patrol Palawan, TV Patrol Southern Tagalog (CALABARZON), TV Patrol Central Visayas (Cebu, Dumaguete, Bohol), TV Patrol Negros (Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental), TV Patrol Panay (Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras), TV Patrol Eastern Visayas (Samar, Leyte), TV Patrol Northern Mindanao (Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental Lanao Del Norte, CARAGA, Dipolog), TV Patrol South Central Mindanao (SOCSKSARGEN, Cotabato), TV Patrol Southern Mindanao (Davao), TV Patrol Chavacano (Zamboanga).
“ABS-CBN Regional serves Filipinos in remote areas not reached by other television signals. But more than delivering breaking news, ABS CBN Regional news teams are also the first to bring aid and relief to communities struck by calamities,” said ABS-CBN Regional head Tata Sy.
Aside from local TV Patrol newscasts, ABS-CBN Regional will also stop producing new episodes of its nine morning shows, which have been keeping local audiences updated on news and infotainment every morning.
Also affected are its public service initiatives anchored on health, education, environment, and livelihood held year-round, such as the “Grand Halad sa Kapamilya.”
Sy said part of ABS CBN Regional’s mission has always been to provide meaningful and sustainable public service—by linking individuals and communities to relevant donors; or by relaying problems and issues to government for prompt and appropriate action.
After the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order on May 5 that shut down ABS-CBN’s broadcast operations, ABS-CBN Regional continued producing newscasts and shows for streaming on its YouTube channel and Facebook pages.
