CHINA will donate P130 million worth of broadcast equipment to the Philippines to help revamp state-owned Radyo Pilipinas stations, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said yesterday.

“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 P130 million worth of radio broadcast equipment,” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.

Mr. Andanar said he checked government radio stations nationwide under the Philippine Broadcasting Service and found that these were “not inviting anymore.”

A radio rehabilitation program was started to overhaul old equipment used in these stations that include 10 AM stations and four FM stations, he said.

The Chinese donation was part of the bilateral documents signed last week when Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua visited the Philippines on Oct. 22 to 24.

Radio equipment donated by the Chinese government included sound panels, microphones, headphones and radio consoles.

The four government FM stations will be the first to benefit from the Chinese donation, Mr. Andanar said.

Radyo Pilipinas Butuan will be the first to benefit from the bigger radio rehabilitation program, the PCOO said. The office is also looking at upgrading facilities in Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cebu, Tawi-Tawi and Batanes. — Gillian M. Cortez

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