Pulso off air due to city hall pressures

The report that the multi-awarded radio program “Pulso” ended its broadcast last Friday generated an outpouring of encouragement and moral support from radio listeners.

“Pulso” is heard over dyRD-AM from 9 to 10 in the morning Monday to Friday, and also in the Internet by logging on to http://www.dyrdam.com/.

Anchorman Kagawad Roberto “Batchoy” Alba together with co-anchor university professor Fred Ticong lamented the alleged harassment directed against the program’s sponsors, initiated by the Office of the City Mayor, to silence their no-holds-barred commentaries of the city’s actual situation under the administration of City Mayor Dan Lim.

“This is a clear curtailment of press freedom and the right of the people to freely express their grievances to government,” Alba said.

In just a matter of one day, four of the program sponsors pulled out, allegedly through pressure from the Office of the City Mayor. The establishments had no choice but to withdraw their sponsorship or face possible revocation of their Mayor’s Permit.

LIM DENIES, OFFERS TO
SUPPORT PROGRAM

Mayor Lim vehemently denied pressuring the sponsors of the radio program.

During his weekly “Mayor’s Report” over dyRD yesterday, Lim instead offered to pay the airtime of Pulso, if only to prove that he was not behind the termination of contracts of its advertisers.

“I will pay its airtime, and will even do advance payment in order for Pulso to remain on the airlanes,” the mayor categorically stated. He said that even if he will be paying the airtime of the radio program, he won’t mind if Alba will continue his tirade against his administration.

The mayor, usually picks up the issues aired in Pulso which would criticize his administration. In fact, Alba said it is almost every week the city mayor will attack him whenever his program would air criticisms against Lim’s administration,

Asked why he always hit the mayor in the program, Alba said the program is actually not against the mayor. In fact it is helping him to identify the problems in the city that must be acted upon by city hall. All are constructive and objective commentaries, he said.

“All issues affecting city hall are broadcast in good intentions. However, it is unfortunate that the city mayor gives it a different interpretation,” the anchorman clarified.

LAST BROADCAST

Pulso, which is one of the top rated commentary/public affairs programs of dyRD, made its last broadcast last Friday.

Alba said that his radio program which is his vehicle of a personal advocacy for clean governance has to temporarily stop due to unpaid months of broadcast. Alba told dyRD management that his inability to pay is due to the withdrawal of his supposedly loyal sponsors who were pressured by city hall to terminate their broadcast contracts with the block-time program.

Pulso recently emerged No. 1 in listenership in the “Internet radio” here and abroad. The radio program was also recognized by the Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii, USA last May for its “role in linking the Boholanos worldwide.” The program was also awarded by the Bohol Tri-Media Association in 2006 for its contribution in the service of the Boholano community.

Pulso earned the respect of listeners, including former OIC Gov. Victor de la Serna and other citizens of the community, as avenue to discuss issues where government failed, in matters of public concern.