Ratsada 24 Oras, formerly Ratsada and 24 Oras Western Visayas is a Philippine television newscast by GMA Iloilo. Originally anchored by Noly Calvo and Jeja Rose Pernan, it premiered on October 4, 1999. The newscast concluded on November 13, 2015. Gerthrode Charlotte Tan and Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida served as the final anchors.
Overview
It provides news and features around Iloilo City and Province of the same name and the rest of Western Visayas. The newscast airs every Monday to Friday 5:00 to 5:45 pm with its broadcast center located at MacArthur Drive, Jaro, Iloilo City. It is also heard on a slightly delayed basis through DYSI 1323 AM and simulcast over GMA Channel 2Kalibo and GMA Channel 5 Roxas live. The newscast's anchors are Gerthrode Charlotte Tan and Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida. Ratsada 24 Oras has covered the entire Western Visayas and has increased its ability to provide comprehensive, effective and reliable news gathering.
History
The newscast began its airing on October 4, 1999. It was one of the three regional newscasts initially launched by the network along with Balitang Bisdak of GMA Cebu and Testigo of GMA Davao under the banner of GMA Super Balita. Jeja Rose Pornan-Simeon and Noly Calvo were the first anchors of the said news program. Noly Calvo eventually became the sole anchor. In 2002, Calvo was replaced by Gerthrode Charlotte Tan and Christopher Misajon, who was known as "Mr. Ratsada". The tandem of Tan and Misajon lasted until September 23, 2004, when Misajon was shot by a group of robbers and died two days later. Misajon was replaced by Jonathan Gellangarin, who is a well-known radio personality in Western Visayas. In October 2007, Ratsada began its simulcast on GMA Bacolod. The simulcast lasted until November 19, 2010, in preparation with the launch of its own regional news program Isyu Subong Negrense; and later returned in November 2012 until 2013 airing the two programs back-to-back. On the newscast's 10th anniversary in 2009, Tan left the newscast temporarily leaving Gellangarin as the main anchor of the program until 2010. In 2012, Gellangarin left the newscast and was replaced by Mark Nunieza joining Tan as her co-anchor. Following changes of 24 Oras, Ratsada was rebranded as 24 Oras Western Visayas on November 10, 2014. Lawyer and local broadcast journalist Jobert Peñaflorida took Nunieza's place who returned to his reportorial job to the newscast. On July 20, 2015, 24 Oras Western Visayas was retitled Ratsada 24 Oras. After more than 16 years, Ratsada 24 Oras went off-air on November 13, 2015, following the layoffs of more than 20 personnel in the Iloilo station as part of streamlining of operations reverted to GMA programs. Almost three years after Ratsada was cancelled, GMA Iloilo returned as an originating station with the launching of the new newscast One Western Visayas. Correspondent Joecel Huesca joined the newscast as its executive producer and correspondent.
