PCOO to start upgrade of 14 state-owned radio stations

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said 10 AM (amplitude modulation) and four FM (frequency modulation) stations operated by government-owned Radyo Pilipinas (RP) will undergo facility upgrade. (PCOO file photo)

MANILA — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will soon begin the rehabilitation of at least 14 state-run radio stations nationwide, following China’s recent donation of over PHP130 million worth of radio broadcast equipment to the Philippines.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said 10 AM (amplitude modulation) and four FM (frequency modulation) stations operated by government-owned Radyo Pilipinas (RP) will undergo facility upgrade.

“We conceptualized the radio rehab program after going around the country and seeing that the status of our radio stations under the Philippine Broadcasting Service are not as inviting anymore,” the Communications chief said during the launch of radio rehabilitation program in Butuan City on Friday.

The first station that will be rehabilitated is RP-Butuan, as earlier promised by Andanar.

“I am happy to announce that we are launching the radio rehabilitation program here in Butuan City… This is the first time that we are doing this,” he said.

Apart from Butuan, other stations that will be part of the radio rehabilitation program are those from Cagayan de Oro City, Davao, Cebu, Tawi-Tawi and Batanes.

Andanar noted that the equipment turned over by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua will be installed in 10 AM stations, while the other radio broadcast tools donated by China will be set up in four FM stations.

In March this year, Andanar announced that Zhao had committed to donate PHP15 million worth of equipment to the PCOO, which include laptops, desktops, microphones, and audio consoles.

Meantime, Andanar and Chinese Vice Minister Wang Shouwen signed and exchanged certificates on the Philippine Radio Equipment Project on Thursday (Oct. 24) in Intramuros, Manila.

The new equipment worth more than PHP130 million from China include live broadcast room equipment, FM broadcast transmitter equipment, and medium wave transmitter equipment.

Andanar thanked the Chinese government for its donation.

“We plan to rehabilitate 10 radio stations nationwide and on top of that, the People’s Republic of China has already turned over more than PHP130 million worth of radio broadcast equipment,” he said.

On Friday, Andanar said China’s donation of radio broadcast equipment will be a “huge boost” to state-owned regional stations.