Winds of change are blowing in PLDT Inc., at least in its public relations group, as the telecommunication giant prepares to seek congressional approval for the renewal of its franchise.
The 25-year franchise of PLDT will expire on 28 November 2028 as allowed under Republic Act 6146.
Early Monday, PLDT announced the “voluntary retirement” of veteran journalist Catherine Yap-Yang, a first vice president and head of the company’s corporate communications group. Her retirement took effect December 1.
“This event is not expected to have any significant impact on the company’s current or future operations, financial position, or results of operations,” PLDT said.
Sources said veteran and award-winning journalist Robby Alampay is expected to take over as head of the PLDT corporate communications group.
The 53-year-old Yap-Yang is expected to focus on her television career. She already produces insightful interviews as one of the hosts at Cignal TV’s One News.
Alampay, a former editor-in-chief of Business World, the country’s oldest business daily and a part of the MVP Group, who was charged with digital strategy and help the newspaper get back in the black. He was also a news anchor and is still program host on TV 5. He left his executive positions in 2019 to set up Puma Public Productions, one of the pioneers in non-music audio productions in Southeast Asia.
Cignal TV is a wholly-owned unit of MediaQuest Holdings under the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund.
As part of the transition, veteran journalist and former head of PLDT’s media group Ramon Isberto has been plucked from retirement to provide guidance. Isberto retired in 2020 after spending 25 years in PLDT.
Isberto told Context.ph that he actually started consulting with PLDT in November, an extension of consultancy arrangement with MediaQuest. “I will help out for a while,” said Isberto.
Gian Lao, a consummate speech writer and a close aide of PLDT top honcho Manuel V. Pangilinan, has also been tapped to help with corporate communications. PLDT insiders believe that Lao is the future face of PLDT’s communications group, depending on how fast he could learn the relationship and public relations management side of the job.
