Government not doing enough to give Filipino kids educational TV?

MANILA, Philippines - Considering how Philippine television is feeding Filipino children with primetime telenovelas and other adult shows everyday, the government is not doing enough to provide young viewers quality educational programs that will make them better individuals in the future.

Instead of giving them opportunities to appreciate culturally-relevant and developmentally appropriate programming, their young minds are subjected to drama, action, and the likes because there is not enough money to produce programs for them.

Thirteen years ago, the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) was created by Republic Act 8370 or the “Children’s Television Act of 1997.”

The law recognized the “vital role of the youth in nation-building” and was made to “promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being” of Filipino children “by enhancing their overall development.”

Thirteen years after, the NCCT is being asked to exert more effort in order to achieve one of its mandated functions of developing and producing high-quality television programs for children.

In its 2009 report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said last year’s non–implementation of the NCCT programmed activities funded through the National Endowment Fund of Children’s Television (NEFCT) amounting to P30 million fell short of its goals.

State auditors explained that Section 12 of RA 8370 sought to promote high standards of indigenous program for development in children’s television and media using funds from the income of lotto operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

Last year, the COA report said Pagcor remitted its share for the NEFCT Fund but a review of the NCCT’s 2009 planned activities, targets and accomplishments disclosed that it was unable to implement the Major Final Output No. 3 which was for the production of quality children’s television programs particularly on the production of a television series for children.

“Our interview with the concerned personnel disclosed that the planned TV programs for the children could not be fully maximized due to problems encountered in availing of the primetime slot where there are many children viewers,” state auditors said.

Airing its side, the agency explained that it does not pursue production of child-friendly television programs for a number of reasons including inability to pay for it.

The NCCT management said production cost to produce a television show needs at least P13 million to be able to pull off a 30-minute television show with 13 episodes considering the expenses to be incurred during the pre-production, production and post production stage.

The agency said it believes that this is not the right time to create such programming as it is an infant agency with a mall budget which earns only P2,126,408.59 in interest from the Endowment Fund given by the PCSO.

“The NCCT found out from the three largest television networks that airing a 30-seconder commercial and infomercial shown in primetime cost about P500,000; thus, airing of television program will definite cost higher,” the COA report said.

“Further, the NCCT conducted a research study on the television viewing habits of children and found out that 90 to 95 percent of kids watch shows in primetime slots. If NCCT decides to produce a television show, NCCT must consider airing the program on a primetime slot and from the three largest television networks.”

State auditors were also told of the agency’s limited human resources as it is manned only by nine personnel - three are organic, one detailed and the rest are contractual.