SONA-ABS-CBN | Duterte orders use of TV frequencies for online learning

July 27, 2020 , 08:14 PM

(July 27, 2020) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday directed officials to use the television frequencies assigned to the country’s largest broadcasting network for online learning as he continued to attack the family who controls the radio-and-television stations.

Congress has denied early this month ABS-CBN a 25-year legislative franchise, allowing the goverment to use freely its frequency.

“TV frequencies reverted back to the government for whatever cause or reason shall not be used exclusively to the exclusion of other persons or other dummies to cope with the demand of the next normal,” Duterte said in his fifth State-of-the-Nation (SONA) Address before a joint session of Congress, “This would be used to provide uninterrupted quality education and shift to e-learning.”

He directed the justice, science and technology, and information and communications technology departments to work with the budget and education chiefs to “come up with integrated programs and implementation to make sure TV frequencies are fully utilized by the government, PTV4, to the utmost benefit of the Filipino people.”

Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte had earlier floated the possibility of using broadcast media network ABS-CBN’s frequencies for distance learning. Lawmakers denied renewing the network’s franchise, in a 70-11 vote.

Duterte had been vocal in his criticism against the network, raising the issue of his unaired 2016 campaign ads.

During his fifth State of the Nation Address, he mentioned television frequencies after attacking the Lopez clan, which owns ABS-CBN.

“It belongs to the government, the best transmission lines, the government gets it first before anybody else,” he added.

Duterte insisted on Monday he would not allow traditional face-to-face learning as schools open in August, while no vaccine has been developed,.

But he did say he is amenable to the limited face-to-face classes in low risk areas by January next year, as proposed by his education chief.

“I believe we will have a COVID-19 vaccine by September. Implement modular learning and online learning, I will allow face to face learning on January 2021,” Duterte said as he addressed Congress on Monday.

“I cannot and will not put to risk the health and lives of students and teachers,” he added, “Life that is lost is lost forever. Education that is delayed can be recovered.”

Duterte softened his stance as he mentioned asking China for access to the COVID-19 vaccine candidate that they are developing. The Philippines has agreed to participate in Sinopharm’s clinical trials for the vaccine.

But the chief executive is not completely ruling out the resumption of classes despite difficulties cited by parents for online learning.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones had put forward the concept of blended learning, which would allow for online learning, as well as modular lessons through TV, radio, and kits for those struggling with internet connection.

Duterte also vowed to build the Public Education Network (PEN), which would connect the information and communications of all public schools and education offices nationwide.

“We will prioritize the connection of all last-mile schools and others with no electricity supply and have it via satellite and energize via solar panels. By 2022 before I step down, the PEN shall be realized,” Duterte promised. (Katrina Elaine Alba/MM)

Privacy Statement

Our Privacy Commitment

TV5 Network Inc. values and respects your privacy. We are committed to safeguarding your personal data in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its implementing rules and regulations.

We have developed a Privacy Policy that adopts and observes appropriate standards for personal data protection. While our Privacy Policy sets out the general principles governing the collection, use, and disclosure of our users’ personal information, our Privacy Commitment seeks to inform you more about TV5’s privacy practices.

Why do we collect your personal information (as applicable)?

We may collect and maintain basic information about you as site user of TV5 sites for the following purposes:

To deliver news and updates on current events, sports, esports and entertainment;
To share livestreams of news and sports events;
To understand our viewers’ needs and preferences;
To meet legal and regulatory requirements; and
To perform other processes or disclosures that are required to comply with pertinent laws, rules, or regulations.

Where do we get your personal information?

There are several ways we collect your personal information.

Information that you personally provided.

Most of the personal information we have are those that you have provided us when you:
- Register to our programs or services;
- Inquired, filed a complaint or requested for our services;
- Took part in our research and surveys; and/or
- Became our Partner, Vendor, Contractor or Supplier.

Information we collect during your engagement with us

We also collect information as you use our products and services, like:
- Viewing our websites;
- Activities that are being tracked by our website cookies;
- Calling our hotline;
- Using our apps, websites, and self-service channels and portals; and/or
- Joining our promos, prize raffles, or rewards and loyalty programs.

Information we collect from other sources

Other means of collection of information may be through:
- Our market research initiatives;
- When you visit and use our websites and mobile application; and
- Subsidiaries, affiliates, and third-party business partners to whom you have given consent to share your information to us.

When do we disclose personal information?

There may be instances when we are required to share the information you provided us. In such cases, we ensure that your personal information will be disclosed on a confidential manner, through secure channels and in compliance with the Data Privacy Act and other privacy laws.

We will never share, rent, or sell your personal information to third parties outside of TV5 except in special cases where you have given consent, and in cases described in our privacy policy.

In some instances, we may be required to disclose your personal information to our agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, business partners and other third-party agencies and service providers as part of our regular business operations and for the provision of our programs and services. This means we might share your information with our service providers, contractors, and professional advisers who help us provide our services.

How we protect your personal information

The integrity, confidentiality, and security of your information is important to us. We have implemented technical, organizational, and physical security measures that are designed to protect your information from unauthorized or fraudulent access, alteration, disclosure, misuse, and other unlawful activities.

We also put in effect the following safeguards:

We keep and protect your information using a secured server behind a firewall, encryption and security controls;
We keep your information only for as long as it is necessary for us to (a) provide the products and services that you avail from us, (b) for our legitimate business purposes, (c) to comply with pertinent laws, and (d) for special cases that will require the exercise or defense of legal claims;
We limit the access to your information only to qualified and authorized personnel who are trained to handle your information with strict confidentiality;
We undergo regular audits and rigorous testing of our infrastructure’s security protocols to ensure your data is always protected;
We promptly notify you and the National Privacy Commission when sensitive personal information that may, under the circumstances, be used to enable identity fraud are reasonably believed to have been acquired by an unauthorized person; and
We let you update your information securely to keep our records accurate.

TV5 will not collect, use, or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than the purpose that you may have given your consent for.

What are your choices?

We make sure that we have your consent to continue to collect, use, and disclose your personal information for the purposes that we have identified. We want you to know that you may object or withdraw your consent and/or edit your consent preferences at any time.

If you wish to have access to the personal information in our custody or if you think that the personal information you provided is incomplete, or otherwise inaccurate, you may get in touch with our Data Protection Officer through the contact details provided below. In some instances, we may request for supporting documents or proof before we effect requested changes.

Data Protection Officer
TV5 Network Inc.
Reliance corner Sheridan Streets
Mandaluyong City
tv5dataprivacy@tv5.com.ph

What happens when there are changes in our Policy?

From time to time, we may update our privacy policy and practices to comply with changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements, adapt to new technologies and protocols, and align with the best practices of the industry.

You will be provided notices if the changes are significant and, if we are required by law, we will obtain your updated consent.