Ifugao hosts nat’l radio training

By Vivencia D. Bulayungan

QUEZON City -- Participants from Radyo Kiphodan in Lagawe, Ifugao joined 50 participants from other provinces nationwide at the Luxent Hotel here for a community radio broadcasting training last Jan. 23-25.

Sponsored by the National Nutrition Council, the training sought to enable participants to operate, manage, and maintain a community radio station, said NNC Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Maria Bernardita Flores.

Radyo Kiphodan in Lagawe, the only Nutriskwela community radio station in the Cordillera Administrative Region, was represented by its station manager, Vency Bulayungan and program manager Edna Butticon.

Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program is a strategy of the NNC that aims to empower communities through the establishment of community radio stations to disseminate nutrition, health and development-oriented information to community members.

“The program has established 15 Nutriskweal community radio stations nationwide and for this year, the program will expand to 10 more community radio stations,” Flores said.

She said the program aimed to empower communities through dissemination of correct and up-to-date nutrition and health information as well as educational and developmental information from communities, government agencies and non government organizations.

Meanwhile, Mackay Quadra, the managing director of the MQ Media zone said participants learned important role in educating and informing local audiences about issues that affect their lives such as health and proper nutrition, environment, education, social services, culture and arts, religion and government.

Through lectures and workshops, industry veterans taught participants basics of radio broadcasting, tools and techniques that included writing for radio like news and radio plugs, developing program design suited for a community radio; radio operations and management beginning with physical studio, personnel and their functions and the basic equipment and technical facilities.

Participants also learned how a community radio station can find its place and relevance in this age of modern technology. -- PIA