MANILA, Nov. 25 -- Senators on Tuesday pushed for long-delayed upgrades and institutional reforms across the government's communications agencies as they deliberated on the proposed PHP2.714-billion budget of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) for 2026.

Budget sponsor Sen. Loren Legarda said the Senate aims to reinforce the capability of PCO and its attached agencies through facility rehabilitation, digital modernization, and addressing long-standing employment issues within state media.

"We need a fund for retirement, the rehabilitation of the main building, the facilities, modernization, and digital upgrading," Legarda said, noting that PTV-4 and IBC-13 rely heavily on government subsidy because of limited income.

Sen. Raff...