UNTV to Deploy News and Rescue Services on New Year’s Eve

by Agent Searchlight

On the eve of December 31, UNTV will not only report Filipinos’ New Year revelry, mobile rescue units to respond to emergency needs will also be deployed. 

To be aired live on television and on its website, UNTV’s year-end presentation titled Panibagong Taon ng Pagkakawanggawa, Panibagong Taon ng Pagbabalita, highlights public service commitment.

Photo Courtesy of UNTV Marketing

Earlier, UNTV reported the graduation of the third batch of news teams who enrolled in the basic course on Emergency Response Training (ERT). The latest batch, who will augment UNTV’s Tulong Muna Bago Balita advocacy, will be deployed to rove around Metro Manila this New Year’s Eve. 

Meanwhile, UNTV will open the major branches of Clinic ni Kuya nationwide to accept patients for free emergency and first-aid treatments.

Introduced by UNTV Chief Executive Officer Daniel Razon, the news-plus-rescue concept dubbed Tulong Muna Bago Balita (Rescue First, Before News), was unveiled July this year during the station’s 6th year anniversary celebration. 

Razon, who is also popularly known as Kuya Daniel, said, “Our fellowmen are more important than anything else, [next only to] getting and delivering news.”

According to Razon, the news and rescue advocacy redefines news gathering principles and sets rescue as UNTV News Teams’ number 1 priority.  Kuya Daniel said the cause was inspired by the teachings of the International Evangelist Bro. Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path).

MOA signing between UNTV and Search and Rescue Unit Foundation Inc. (SARUF) during the program 'Good Morning Kuya' last November 26, 2010.

Razon inspires UNTV news members to undergo emergency-response training courtesy of Search and Rescue Unit Foundation Inc. (SARUF). With the help of SARUF’s training, reporters, cameramen and even drivers are being trained to conduct first-aid and rescue operations. From time to time they undergo refresher and advance training courses like tactical medication, hostage rescue, water and fire rescue.

UNTV vehicles were also equipped not just for news gathering but for rescue purposes as well. Arsenals like trauma kit, rescue gear, stretcher and radio communication device are being used as tools for their rescue operations. 

  

Moreover, UNTV allayed fears that the Tulong Muna Bago Balita advocacy will result in second-rate news reporting. The public service channel assured some quarters that its News Teams are equipped with a mobile transmitter for reporters’ live reports.

UNTV continued that as the Public Service Channel of Philippine Television, it will continuously innovate for the welfare of the society.