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| From left: GMA Network chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones, GMA Network president and COO Gilberto M. Duavit Jr. (Image Source: GMA News) |
In the past few months, GMA Network Inc. is committed to offer one or two of its digital terrestrial television channels for the implementation of the blended learning approach adopted by the Department of Education (DepEd) for school year 2020-2021 which started last October 5, 2020 considering that the restrictions imposed by the community quarantine due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country led to the indefinite suspension of face-to-face classes. Now the commitment is about to be realized.
The largest broadcasting network in the Philippines has officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement with DepEd in a virtual ceremony held last December 5, 2020 which enables the government to freely use one of the former's digital free TV channels for the blended learning approach. Due to the importance of education amidst uncertainties and challenges that the country is facing, DepEd TV will now be available nationwide every Monday to Saturday at 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on channel 7 of the GMA Affordabox and all other digital TV boxes beginning in the middle of December.
The MOA signing was led by GMA Network Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon and President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto M. Duavit Jr. and DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones. Present in the signing for GMA were Senior Vice-President for Finance and ICT Ronaldo P. Mastrili; Senior Vice-President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Business Development, Concurrent Chief Risk Officer and Head of Program Support Regie C. Bautista; Vice-President and Head of Regional TV and Synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso; and Vice-President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz. Meanwhile, witnessing the event for DepEd were Undersecretaries Alain Pascua, Diosdado San Antonio and Alma Ruby Tobio as well as Directors Abram Y.C. Abanil and Atty. Marcelo Bragadi Jr. and consultant Darlow Parazo.
"GMA Network recognizes the challenges our country faces in the middle of the pandemic and will do its part to support the country's efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to enrich the lives of Filipinos in ways that we can. It is therefore our honor and privilege to join forces with the Department of Education and provide our TV platform for free to enable our young learners access to broadcast education while keeping them safe at home," said Gozon. Meanwhile, Duavit stated that GMA is one with providing what is best for the Filipino people. "This is part of our continuous effort to deliver Serbisyong Totoo to our countrymen, especially in these difficult and trying times. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve our youth by providing this added means by which to learn and grow," he added.
The DepEd secretary thanked the Kapuso network for the granted opportunity and commitment to serve the nation. "All these months that we have been struggling with a pandemic, we have sought ways with alternative learning modes. This has been leading us to the greater use of technology. And we are very grateful to GMA for offering their assistance, their services and advice as we move on to much more effective ways of delivering blended learning, as well as other modalities." Aside from GMA Affordabox and other digital TV boxes, DepEd TV is also available via IBC 13, Solar Learning, SKYcable, Cignal, Satlite, GSAT and members of the Philippine Cable Television Association among other partners.
