Sun.Star: MMDA chief to be sued for dismissal of radio announcers

DISMISSED employees of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Traffic Radio are readying charges for breach of contract against MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando following their alleged illegal termination from their work. One of the disgruntled workers, program announcer Ruben Paypon, said they are consulting with lawyers regarding their legal action in an effort to regain the positions they lost last February 13. "We see no reason for us to be terminated," Paypon said, claiming they had live contracts that were set to expire on June 30, 2008. Aside from Paypon, fellow announcers Allan Hobrero, Heser Robregado, Isagani Oro and Norma Marco and scriptwriters Isaias Jariol Jr. and Margie Bentulan were also dismissed. They were all job-order employees initially contracted to work for the MMDA Traffic Radio between October and December 2007. "How can we be fired if our contracts were renewed for another six months even before the end of December?" said Paypon, a broadcasting veteran of 29 years. "This hurts because we're professionals. He (Fernando) couldn't even fix the garbage problem in Metro Manila, now he's treating us like garbage," he said. Asked about what triggered their termination, Paypon said their relationship with Fernando turned sour earlier this month due to the type of songs that the announcers were cueing during station breaks. The MMDA chairman apparently found some songs "indecent" although the playlist was approved by his office, he said. He added that their fate could very well be an offshoot of the firing of former consultant and station manager Barr Samson, who had criticized Fernando's way of running the fledgling radio station. Samson complained of the station's poor signal despite the purchase of alleged overpriced transmitters. He said they were also barred by Fernando from making any commentary on the radio. Reports said the dismissed employees made a commentary regarding the controversial US$329 million national broadband network (NBN) contract with China's ZTE Corporation that tend to favor the revelation of Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the key witness in the Senate hearing on the questionable NBN contract. Samson said they discovered that the radio station has no permit from the National Telecommunications Communication (NTC) for their operation prompting them to inform the said agency of the violation. As station manager, Samson reportedly earns P38,000 monthly while anchors earn P20,000. But Fernando defended the relief of the employees saying that aside from the end of their contract, the dismissed MMDA radio announcers also violated the station policy that they should only air traffic situations in Metro Manila and not air commentaries. He likewise said as their boss, he has the right to enforce the station's rule and it is the duty of the employees to follow. Established last September 24, the MMDA Traffic Radio-1206 AM has devoted its reports on traffic updates and road condition. The agency decided to put up a radio station after months of consultation with the MMDA Traffic Operation Centers, which provide 24-hour traffic monitoring and volunteer organizations and even radio broadcasters and reporters. Fernando describes the station as a "virtual road-show" with news, information and public service related mainly to providing listeners with hour-on-hour traffic updates in the metropolis. It also provides motorists with road safety updates and information about traffic rules and regulations. - Sun.Star