GMA Batangas, Balitang Southern Tagalog to launch on February 14

GMA Batangas Regional TV station and local newscast GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog are set to launch on Feb. 14.

During a media conference on Friday, First Vice President and Head of Regional TV and Synergy Oliver Amoroso said with the opening of the Batangas station, GMA was proudly launching its 11th regional TV station and 7th flagship regional newscast.

According to Amoroso, the new station will be "in tune with the Filipino culture and local communities."

"That's why we want to strengthen regional TV because for us, local news matters. We value every home in different regions," he said.

"GMA Regional TV is already present, we have several hubs across the Philippines. The opening of GMA Regional TV in Batangas completes the grid," he added.

"Kulang na lang talaga is South Luzon, specifically Southern Tagalog."

[We're just missing South Luzon, specifically Southern Tagalog.]

Amoroso said because Batangas was close to Manila, the network used to deploy a correspondent from Manila to Batangas for coverages.

"Madalas nadadaanan ng bagyo ang southern Luzon," said Amoroso.

[Southern Luzon is frequently visited by typhoons.]

"With the new news hub, we are able to send (a team) immediately," he said.

"'Yung local culture, local community, with the opening of GMA Regional TV sa southern Tagalog, mabibigyan pa natin ng focus," he added.

[With the opening of GMA Regional TV in Southern Tagalog, we can give more focus to the local culture and local community.]

"We will be able to bring the best in and of Southern Tagalog to the national level."

Amoroso said the launch of the new station took over two years—one for planning and another for activation.

"Before the pandemic, we were already expanding. [We saw that] this is the right time to open a station," he said.

"[We really went through a lot] because of the limitation in mobilization."

He also revealed that they underwent a stringent process to find the right roster of news producers, anchors, and other team members who would become the pillars of the new station.

"We're going to move forward at ito na nga. Para sa amin responsibility and commitment namin 'yun sa tao, ibinibigay namin ang lahat," said GMA Regional TV Batangas-Southern Tagalog Station Manager Darlene Mangubat.

[We're going to move forward and this is it. For us, it is our responsibility and commitment to the people, we are giving it our all.]

GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog anchors Ivy Saunar-Gasang and Ace Medrano expressed their gratitude for the opportunity given to them.

"I'm very much excited. Sobrang saya ko to be given this opportunity ... Talagang nagpapasalamat tayo sa GMA to be able to give back to the people by delivering the latest news na buong puso at may serbisyong totoo," said Gasang.

[I'm happy to be given this opportunity. I'm really thankful to GMA that I am able to give back to the people by delivering the latest news with our whole hearts and with true service.]

"Pangarap ko po talaga maging part lang talaga ng company pero more than that opportunity at tiwala na binigay ng network at ni Lord," said Medrano.

[I've always dreamt of being part of the company but the network and God trusted me and gave me a bigger opportunity.]

"Marami pa ring sulok at parte ng Timog Katagalugan na hindi pa nakikilala ng bansa at ng mundo. Layunin ng programa na mas mapakilala pa ang parte at mga kwento ng Timog Katagalugan," he added.

[There are many parts of Southern Tagalog that the country and the world have yet to know. The goal of our program is to further let the stories of Southern Tagalog be known.]

GMA Batangas Regional TV's Balitang Southern Tagalog newscast will also be aired on GMA Pinoy TV for Filipinos abroad who hope to hear more about their communities. – RC, GMA News