Officials inaugurate GMA Network Drive in QC

MANILA, Philippines – Officials of GMA Network and the Quezon City government on Thursday inaugurated the newly renamed portion of 11th Jamboree in honor of the broadcasting firm’s contribution to the city’s landscape. The event, held at the new GMA Annex Building , saw the coming together of local government leaders led by Mayor Feliciano “Sonny" Belmonte, Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, and a number of councilors, as well as network executives led by GMA Network chairman, president, and chief executive Felipe Gozon. The inauguration also featured the unveiling of the new street sign for the newly renamed GMA Network Drive, formerly part of 11th Jamboree Street. GMA Network Drive covers the street starting from the EDSA and Timog Avenue. The portion of the street is also sandwiched between GMA’s main and annex buildings. In his address, Belmonte said the renaming has a double purpose of acknowledging not only the broadcast network but also the people who built it. “This is an homage to both Attorney Gozon and GMA which we have seen really rising to its preeminent position now. And Quezon City is rising together with it," Belmonte said. "We are very honored to have done this. This is a very small gesture, but we still did it in recognition of GMA and its contribution to the city and the country." However, Belmonte said the street was renamed not solely for the contributions and achievements of GMA Network in the past but also to urge the broadcasting firm to foster growth in the city as well as in other corners of the country. “[We did this] in anticipation that it will continue to be a driver of growth for the entire country because of its role as the key telecommunications giant in our country and its role in the continuing growth of Quezon City in which we can all identify with," Belmonte said. In response, Gozon promised that the distinction bestowed upon GMA by the local government would serve as an inspiration for the broadcast company to continue delivering quality and superior entertainment for Filipino families. The network president even cited the upcoming 2010 national elections as a opportunity for GMA to prove that it observes news reporting that is "walang pinapanigan at walang kinikilingan [objective, unbiased]." The renaming of the street came after the 26-member council passed City Ordinance SP-1877, S-2008, on Nov. 24, which was later signed by Belmonte. To avoid complications in the city’s postal system, the street’s old name would still be affixed beneath the new name GMA Network Drive for two years. In his letter to Belmonte and Bautista last month, Gozon thanked them for the "singular distinction" and vowed "to remain steadfast in its commitment to enrich the lives of Filipinos everywhere with superior entertainment and the responsible delivery of news and information." The entire stretch of the street was named 11th Jamboree in honor of a group of 24 Filipino Boy Scouts who died in a plane crash even before reaching Greece decades ago for the 11th World Scout Jamboree. Aside from the one beside the GMA Network building, several other streets in the Timog Area have also been named Jamboree. Another public structure named after the network is the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Station beside it. The MRT Authority decided to rename the particular station "GMA-Kamuning Station" after the network allowed it to erect a train station on GMA property, Gozon said.- Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV