Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) named UNTV the Best Public Service Broadcast Station of the Year during the premier higher education institution’s inaugural Mabini Media Award held on February 13, 2014.

The awarding coincided with PUP’s 3rd Young Communicators’ Congress in its Manila Campus.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) cites UNTV’s initiatives to deliver genuine public service to the people for “The Best Public Service Broadcast Station” award it bestows to the network on its 1st Mabini Media Awards. (Photo by Photoville International)

Atty. Regie Tongol, a UNTV Program Host, received the award in behalf of the station. 

Atty. Regie thanked PUP for recognizing the efforts of Breakthrough and Milestones Network International (BMPI)-UNTV and of the station’s Chairman and CEO Daniel Razon who is the key advocates of public service-centered media practices in the Philippines. 

He added that similar to PUP, a number of award-giving bodies have also seen the importance of Kuya Daniel’s projects carried out through UNTV geared to help the less fortunate.

In giving UNTV the distinct honor, the Mabini Media Award cited The Public Service Channel’s pioneering creative campaigns geared at providing real public service to the people.

“The Public Service Broadcast Station of the Year award really fits UNTV as this station is found to be initiating its real thrust, mainly to provide public services,” explained Dr. Edna Bernabe, dean of PUP College of Communications.

Public Service in UNTV’s DNA

Kuya Daniel spearheaded and started the public service drive of UNTV since 2004. 

Today, the extent of the public charity commitment of the station covers pioneering charity efforts for indigents in the field of education, medical services, legal assistance, transportation, and residential care, among others. 

In the Philippine mass media landscape, UNTV is noted for pioneering a unique brand of journalism, the news-and-rescue advocacy called Tulong Muna Bago Balita (Rescue First, Report Later). 

Big broadcast stations have created and modeled their own news and rescue teams to the news-and-rescue journalism of UNTV, seeing such as a better practice than the traditional “get it first, get it right”. 

Tulong Muna Bago Balita is Kuya Daniel’s brainchild since 2010.

(Carmi Tongol-Anecito)