By Eva C. Visperas

 

THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan, during its 13th Regular Session last October 20, once again approved a resolution authorizing Governor Ramon Guico III to renew the contract with Regional News Group (RNG) Luzon, Inc. for the weekly travel magazine show “Ganda mo, Pangasinan.”

This marks the third straight year the same Baguio-based media company has been awarded the same project for the same amount of  ₱11 million per year. That’s all from the provincial coffers. And yes, Virginia, some are indeed lucky.

To be clear, promoting Pangasinan is a worthy endeavor. The province, after all, is vast, beautiful, and blessed with stories waiting to be told. But the question that inevitably surfaces is whether the province is getting real value for the money poured into this “travel magazine show.”

During the committee hearing led by 6th District Board Member Noel Bince Jr., RNG Station Manager Joyce Reidy-Guzman presented the show’s accomplishments and future plans. The program, she said, runs across multiple platforms — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, television, even Spotify — and features local businesses, MSMEs, and community stories. She also cited RNG’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, such as free coverage of local government activities and local product promotions.

It all sounds good on paper, as it did in previous years. Yet one could not help but notice what was not shown. Observers noted that RNG was not required to present actual samples of its productions during the session. Some media colleagues at the gallery quietly asked: Have we even seen the show lately?

That’s a fair question. Last year, Board Member Jerry Agerico Rosario called for a performance matrix from RNG before the renewal of its contract — a move that was both sensible and overdue. A random check back then showed modest social media traction, not exactly what one might expect from an ₱11-M contract. Viewership, to be fair, appears to have improved slightly since, perhaps owing to public curiosity — or perhaps because RNG finally had reason to boost its numbers.

Still, the bigger issue remains: accountability. The contract may have passed the legal and procedural tests — after all, the Provincial Legal Office found no impediment, and the funding source under “advertising expenses” was duly certified — but legal compliance does not always mean public satisfaction. Citizens, after all, are the ones footing the bill.

Vice Governor Mark Lambino made an important point during the hearing when he asked RNG to submit a comprehensive list of program materials and outputs from its previous contract. That, in essence, is what transparency looks like. Accountability should not end with a PowerPoint presentation or a polite assurance of deliverables — it should be measurable and publicly visible.

There’s no denying that “Ganda mo, Pangasinan” contributes to provincial promotion. The question is whether it does so enough to justify its cost. At nearly ₱1 million a month for 30-minute weekly episodes and daily updates, residents can rightfully expect polished, far-reaching content that puts Pangasinan on the national map — not just another local program lost in the social media scroll.

Public communication should be efficient, creative, and inclusive, but most of all, it should be accountable. When millions of pesos in taxpayers’ money are allocated to “showcase” the province, the public has every right to see the output, not merely hear about it. Transparency is not hostility; it’s stewardship.

Perhaps what this episode reminds us of is a larger lesson about governance and perception. Even good projects lose their shine when the process that sustains them becomes too predictable, too comfortable. Contracts renewed year after year without thorough public scrutiny create an impression — fair or not  —of favored treatment.

And maybe that’s why people raise eyebrows. Not because they resent the show or its creators, but because they want assurance that public money isn’t merely producing air time — but real impact.

There is value in continuity, yes, but there is greater value in competition and new creative energy. Even the most beautiful province deserves to be told by different storytellers, through different lenses, in ways that evolve with its people.

So here’s hoping that next year, when the board again sits down to discuss another renewal, the deliberation will be more than routine. Let there be data, viewership analytics, community feedback — concrete proof that the program not only makes Pangasinan look good but also makes Pangasinenses proud.

Because “Ganda mo, Pangasinan” should be more than just a title. It should be a truth that the people themselves can see, feel, and — given the ₱11 million price tag — share in with pride.