Retirement Pay Finally Given to IBC-13 Employees After Decades of Waiting
After 22 years and 28 management teams, the long-awaited retirement pay for the employees of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC-13) has finally been released, according to Malacañang, the state-run media corporation. The Presidential Communications Secretary, Cheloy Garafil, announced on Saturday that it was only during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that the retirement pay was given to the IBC workers.
This news comes as a relief to the 145 employees who have dedicated their lives to the company. However, it is also a bittersweet moment as at least 25 of the retirees have already passed away before they could enjoy the fruits of their labor. The journey to receive their retirement pay has been long and arduous, spanning over two decades and involving numerous management changes within the company.
IBC-13, along with other government-owned media companies such as People’s Television Network and the Presidential Broadcast Service-Bureau of Broadcast Services, form the media arm of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), led by Cheloy Garafil. The settlement of the claims of the IBC retirees was one of the marching orders from President Marcos, as he prioritized the welfare of media workers during his administration.
During the awarding ceremony on Friday, Garafil expressed her honor in being part of the long-awaited and well-deserved awarding of benefits to her colleagues in the media. She emphasized that addressing the welfare of media workers is one of the cornerstones of President Marcos’ administration and the PCO.
Jimmie Policarpio, the President and Chief Executive Officer of IBC-13, expressed his gratitude for the release of the retirement pay, which benefits around 200 families. He acknowledged the government of President Marcos for creating an environment that facilitated the resolution of the retirees’ claims. Policarpio also extended his thanks to the Senate, particularly its President Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Jinggoy Estrada, and JV Ejercito, who sponsored the bill that made the payment possible.
The management of IBC-13 also expressed their gratitude to Speaker Martin Romualdez, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and the Governance Council for Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations, headed by Chairman Marius Corpus. They believe that this long-awaited retirement pay will allow the retirees to enjoy their remaining years with dignity and pride, knowing that they have served their country and people.
IBC-13 has a rich history, starting as a private company known as the Inter-Island Broadcasting Corp. in 1960. However, it wasn’t until the martial law years that the company reached its peak after being acquired by the Benedicto Group of Companies in 1975. Under the leadership of the late Marcos crony Roberto Benedicto, IBC-13 became the number one television station from 1977 to 1988. It broadcasted various socially relevant, entertaining, informative, and commercially viable programs during that time.
After the fall of the Marcos regime, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), tasked with recovering the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies, sequestered the TV station. In 1992, the company became wholly owned by the state following a compromise between the PCGG and Benedicto. In July 2000, IBC-13 was granted a 25-year franchise.
In 2010, IBC-13 came under the control of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which was later reorganized and renamed as the Presidential Communications Office under the Marcos administration.
This long-awaited release of retirement pay to the employees of IBC-13 is a significant milestone in their lives. After years of waiting and uncertainty, they can now look forward to enjoying their remaining years with dignity and pride. It serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing the welfare of media workers and the value they bring to society.
Source: The Manila Times