Creation of state-owned FM stations eyed: Andanar

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar revealed the plan on Friday when he led the turnover of new broadcast equipment to state-run Radyo Pilipinas’ (RP) regional station in Calbayog City, Samar. (File Photo: Martin Andanar/Facebook)

MANILA – The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is considering the creation of government-owned FM (frequency modulation) stations in the country.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar revealed the plan on Friday when he led the turnover of new broadcast equipment to state-run Radyo Pilipinas’ (RP) regional station in Calbayog City, Samar.

Like the RP’s AM (amplitude modulation) stations, the proposed FM stations would cater to the broadcasting of news and current affairs, Andanar said.

He said the FM stations, once operational, would also be used to promote original Pilipino music (OPM) and the Philippine culture.

“We are planning to rehabilitate the radio stations we have and eventually we will create new FM stations,” Andanar said in a statement.

“Radio programs should not only be limited to news and current affairs. We should make programs that feature OPM and our culture,” he added.

Andanar was in Samar to deliver the new broadcast equipment in RP’s regional station in Calbayog City.

RP Calbayog, the second station to benefit from the PCOO’s nationwide radio rehabilitation project, has been operating with the same equipment for 37 years, Andanar noted.

The PCOO chief first inspected the announcer’s booth and office of RP Calbayog before turning over the new equipment.

The rehabilitation of RP Calbayog followed after the recent upgrade of RP government-owned radio station in Butuan City.

Andanar said other radio stations that will undergo rehabilitation are those from Surigao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao, Cebu, and Batanes.

He said his office initially sought the upgrade of approximately 10 to 15 RP stations nationwide but eventually planned to include all 27 radio stations in the rehabilitation program.

The PCOO’s radio rehabilitation project is in fulfillment of Andanar’s commitment early this year to improve the services of all RP stations.

Andanar said the PCOO, in partnership with the Philippine Broadcasting Service, will prioritize the provision of radio transmitters, which will be delivered soon.

In March this year, the Chinese government donated PHP15 million worth of equipment to the PCOO, including laptops, desktops, microphones, and audio consoles.

On October 24, Andanar and Chinese Vice Minister Wang Shouwen signed and exchanged certificates on the Philippine Radio Equipment Project. This led to another donation of new equipment worth more than PHP130 million, which includes broadcast room equipment, FM broadcast transmitter equipment, and medium wave transmitter equipment.

Andanar said the PCOO would also give priority in improving the capabilities of state information officers by establishing a Government Strategic Communications Academy in Bukidnon.