The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has maintained that Mega Manila is “almost 100%” prepared for the scheduled analog TV shutdown on November 22.
In an interview on state-run PTV-4, NTC Broadcast Services Division Chief Engr. Anna Liza Buenviaje described the upcoming transition as a historic milestone for Philippine television, covering Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and parts of Laguna, Pampanga, and Bataan.
Buenviaje noted that the agency is still evaluating the rollout phases for provincial areas, where a larger portion of the population continues to rely heavily on analog signals.
“Hindi nga lang po ganoong kahanda gaya ng Mega Manila… may mga residente pa po tayo na hindi (nakakapag-transition),” Buenviaje said.
Meanwhile, the NTC stated that its schedule remains unchanged despite an appeal from media giant GMA Network Inc. to defer the switch-off.
“Sa ngayon po, atin pa rin pong sinusunod ang MC (memorandum circular) na itinakda ang switch-off ngayong November. Pero, since may ganoong posisyon ang ibang TV networks, ‘yung kanilang request ay i-finorward namin… sa the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT),” Buenviaje explained.
“We are seeking guidance from them (DICT) if we are to defer the analog switch-off. ‘Yun po ang hinihintay namin (NTC) sa ngayon [dahil] pinag-aaralan din nila sa ngayon kung dapat bang i-defer at kung mayroon ba talagang valid reason,” she added.
GMA previously requested more time citing the pending implementation of assistance frameworks for low-income households that have yet to shift to digital terrestrial television (DTT).
Amid the ongoing preparations, several networks—including A2Z, PTV, TV5, and ABS-CBN via ALLTV2—have already begun broadcasting advisories regarding the November 22 deadline.