China donation a ‘huge boost’ to PH-owned radio stations: PCOO

Andanar’s statement came after he and Chinese Vice Minister Wang Shouwen signed and exchanged certificates on the Philippine Radio Equipment Project on Thursday at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, Manila. (File Photo: Martin Andanar/Facebook)

MANILA — Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday viewed China’s donation of broadcast equipment to the Philippines as a “huge boost” to state-owned regional radio stations.

Andanar’s statement came after he and Chinese Vice Minister Wang Shouwen signed and exchanged certificates on the Philippine Radio Equipment Project on Thursday at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, Manila.

The certificates provide for the Chinese donation of broadcasting equipment to the PCOO’s Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS).

The donation, which includes live broadcast room equipment, FM broadcast transmitter equipment, and medium wave transmitter equipment, will be used by government-run radio stations in Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City, Bataan, and Cebu City, Andanar said.

“These (pieces of) equipment will be used to renovate our radio stations in Davao City, Cagayan De Oro, Bataan, Cebu City. These will be a huge boost to our radio operations in the entire Philippines,” the Communications chief said.

The Communications Secretary also thanked Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua for facilitating the donation.

Andanar said the donation proves a “very healthy” relations between the two nations in the field of communications.

He also took note of the improving media exchanges between Manila and Beijing.

“The relationship between the Philippines and China in the field of communications is very healthy. We have been sending media practitioners to the People’s Republic of China to observe the media landscape of China, in the same way, that the Chinese government is also sending [media] members to the Philippines to observe,” Andanar said.

“We see our relationship growing stronger and stronger,” he added.

Meanwhile, Andanar noted that the two countries also inked bilateral documents in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, trade, and customs.