By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan –
The only community radio in Basilan has upgraded its reach, boosting its
capacity from 300 watts to 1000 watts with the new transmitter and antenna
donated by the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Basilan.
Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akba said that
the radio station is lucky with the US Forces support in upgrading the
equipment, which improves DXNO-FM’s capacity and widens its reach in the Island
province of Basilan.
“By now, we are already upgraded and
we are now able to serve our people in the far-flung barangays in terms of
information dissemination. Your presence here is not only to help us in our
peace and order condition [but also] to provide us with skills and many other
projects,” the mayor said in her message during the turnover ceremony of the equipment
at DXNO-FM radio station here last Nov. 26.
The mayor added that the presence of
the JSOTF-US Forces in the city augurs well for Isabela. “With your programs
and projects, you [US Forces] make us feel that you are part in our journey and
feel our struggle for peace. I hope you will never get tired of supporting
Basilan and will continue to help us in our needs.”
Mayor Akbar also reminded the DXNO
crew and staff to take care of the equipment and facilities given by the
American people and “use them in a right way in serving our constituents.”
“Rest assured that I will always be
around to help and support you [DXNO] in all your undertakings,” the mayor
reiterated.
Representatives from the
JSOTF-Basilan have also expressed their gladness for the presence of the city
mayor at the turnover ceremony.
“We are happy to be here. We are
happy to help and [we’re] looking forward to working with the city,” SSgt Kirk
Herman of the 5B14 US Army-JSOTF-Basilan said.
Meanwhile, Station Manager Richard
Falcatan expressed his gratitude to the US troops for sharing their resources
with the radio station through the new equipment and facilities.
“The gift will enable us to reach
more people, serve more those in need, and increase our capacity as public
servants,” Falcatan said, hoping that it “can help strengthen our determination
to make Isabela City and Basilan, as a whole, a more peaceful place.”
Falcatan said the project costs some P1.9 million. It comprises
1 kilowatt FM transmitter, FM Broadband antenna system, antenna tower, and VHF
radio repeater, among others. (PIA9)