Sugbo TV to go back on air

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said her administration is working on reviving the Sugbo TV channel, which used to feature the province’s culture, tourism, and history to a wider audience.

Garcia told reporters yesterday that she is planning to rebuild a studio for the channel that was shut down in 2012 when she was suspended as governor and replaced by then vice governor Agnes Magpale.

When former governor Hilario Davide III stepped into power, the channel remained discontinued for a good six years.

This time, Garcia said she is determined to bring back the shows to give both locals and tourists information about Cebu’s culture, arts, fashion, food, tourism, and history.

“Ang importante gyud nga mabalik ni ang Sugbo TV sa cable kay karon sa social media pa man ni sila. Ato nang i-rebuild nga adunay kaugalingong studio unya maibalik nato ang mga programa kaniadto (What’s important is to bring it back on cable. For now, the team is operating on social media. But we will rebuild the studio and revive the shows),” she said.

Among the programs eyed to be revived are Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, which will feature tourist destinations; Kusina sa Sugbo, food; The Kabilin, heritage; and Sugbo News, a daily newscast about the programs and projects of the present administration.

According to Garcia, Sugbo TV promoted Cebu to a wider audience as the shows were made available in cable TV and aired in different areas of the country.

“Tungod atong Suroy-Suroy Sugbo nga program, maka-realize ang magtan-aw nga naa pa man diay mas nindot nga lugar gawas sa Cebu City o Lapu-Lapu City. Duna man diay mga waterfalls, mga heritage sites, and whatever pa diha,” Garcia said.

(Because of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program, the viewers realized that there was more to Cebu than what could be seen in Cebu City or Lapu-Lapu City. That it has waterfalls, heritage sites, and what not.)

It can be recalled that then acting governor Magpale closed down the Capitol-owned channel on December 21, 2012. The contention was that Garcia allegedly used the channel for politicking.

Magpale took the reins after Garcia was handed a six-month suspension for alleged usurpation of authority.

Garcia refused to step down initially and holed up at the Capitol for weeks but never got the position back until the suspension expired just when her term ended in June the following year.

Garcia’s brothers Pablo John and Winston ran for the top Capitol post against Davide in 2013 and 2016, respectively, but lost.

Gwen would later defeat Magpale, a long-time ally of Davide, in the elections last May to regain governorship.

According to Minerva Gerodias, Garcia’s consultant on TV production and media relations, the current administration is taking its time trying to shore up the presently understaffed production team.

“As of now, we cannot fully operate yet because we are still conducting inventory of equipment. We also have a lean manpower. So our focus for now is to deliver news reports and upload photos of Capitol events on our Facebook page,” she said.

Gerodias said Sugbo TV will be led by multi-awarded film director Remton Siega Zuasola. (FREEMAN)