IBC-13 transmission tower dismantled due to public safety threat

FILE: Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary and Spokesperson Martin Andanar at the Malacañan Palace on April 5, 2022. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – The transmission tower of state-owned television network Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) was dismantled due to its “threat to public safety”, a Palace official said Tuesday.

Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said IBC-13 President, CEO and Board Member Hexilon Alvarez explained to him that contractor Althea Construction had to remove IBC-13 transmission tower in San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City as an “emergency” procedure.

“Ayon kay Hex Alvarez, walang technical capability ang Althea na mag-dismantle ng nasabing tower. Ang nangyari ay isang emergency. Condemned structure ito at approximately 3×6 rusted steel plate ang nalaglag mula sa tower (According to Hex Alvarez, Althea has no technical capability to dismantle to said tower. What happened was an emergency. This is a condemned structure and an approximately 3×6 rusted steel plate fell from the tower),” he said.

Andanar said the Building Inspection Division also declared the transmission tower as “dangerous and ruinous”, therefore being a threat to public safety.

According to the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), the demolition and disposal of the transmission power is considered “divestment/disposal” and not a procurement activity under Republic Act (RA) 9184 and its 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.

“Thus, IBC must ensure compliance with both [Commission on Audit] Circulars No. 89-296 and 86-265. We remind IBC that in the divestment/disposal of its transmission tower the same must be undertaken primarily thru public auction,” the OGCC said in its contract review.

The IBC, along with sister media companies People’s Television Network and Philippine Broadcasting Service, form the media arm of the PCOO.