Alcover hits CH radio program

CEBU, Philippines - After the Cebu City Council, now it’s Rep. Pastor Alcover, Jr. of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Partylist questioning the design and format of the Cebu City government’s radio program, “Banat Sugbo” aired over DYRF-Word Broadcasting Corporation.

In a letter dated December 31, 2011 to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Alcover said he made the query not only as marginalized representative of ANAD, but as a Cebuano taxpayer.

The city government is reportedly paying the radio station P141, 600 per month out of taxpayer’s money.

Rama earlier said he gave instructions that the radio program should only promote Cebu City projects and activities, and should not be used in favor of any politician but Alcover said that program handlers, Arnel Bacalan, Oscar Pasaporte and Tony Avila, focused on criticizing people who are against the mayor’s leadership.

“In short, ‘Banat Sugbo’ has turned out to be a political commentary program and a venue to attack, malign, or criticize people,” Alcover told Rama in his letter.

As he requests for enlightenment on the program design and format, Alcover also asked if choosing the radio station has passed through the proper bidding process.

“It is my belief that the money paid by the government for this program alone, amounting to some Php 1.6992 million annually, could best be used to help alleviate the plight of our urban poor and other anti-poverty measures like education and resettlement, among others,” Alcover said.

The City Council earlier allowed the renewal of the contract of the City Government’s radio program Banat Sugbo starting this month, which runs for two hours from Monday to Saturday.

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said there should be guidelines on what the program over radio dyRF should discuss after the Council has been the subject of attacks from the program.

Rama assured the members of the council that there is nothing to worry about because he made clear instructions to the anchors of the show.  (FREEMAN)