PAGADIAN CITY, 3 Mar (PIA) – After 15 years off-the-air, the government-owned People’s Television (PTV11) relay station in Pagadian City is back on air, Wednesday (March 1).

Located at the Department of Information and Communications Technology lot at Mt. Palpalan Peak in Pagadian City, the relay station was relaunched through a ceremonial sign-on with DICT Assistant Secretary for Regional Development, Maria Teresa M. Camba and Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co with local PTV officials and staff.

“This is a communication milestone in the region and I cannot miss this chance to be physically present, especially that PTV is a strong ally of DICT. Our programs and projects have reached a wider audience because PTV has been consistent in sharing the good news,” ASec Camba said.

She added that the relaunching of the relaying station is a significant step forward in bringing quality television programming back to the community.

Dormant for fifteen years, ASec Camba is saddened that the region has been missing out in terms of access to reliable and informative news and quality content.

“With the help of the co-location agreement with ICTO, now DICT, way back in 2015, PTV 11 is once again here to serve the community of Pagadian,” she explained.

According to PTV Pagadian Technician Joevie Alioso, the transmitter was previously located at Dao, Pagadian City and was transferred to Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay when the lot they occupied in Dao will already be utilized by the medical center.

Engr. Emmanuel Sucgang, OIC of PTV Mindanao Relay Station said that Mindanao has seven relaying stations now and they are located in Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Matina in Davao, Cotabato City, Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City, and now Pagadian City. PTV also has three locations now that has state-of-the-art equipment—Cotabato City, Marawi City, and the Mindanao Hub in Davao City.

Meanwhile, Mayor Samuel Co thanked the government communications group composed of the Peoples Television and the Philippine Information Agency, and the DICT for the support provided to the local government, as he stressed the critical role of government communication in the life of the people.