Davao City: Regional Director Nelson Cañete of the National Telecommunications Commission-11 (NTC-11) is proposing for the provision of probationary permits to unlicensed local radio stations to aid in the Department of Education’s implementation of the radio-based learning instructions.
During the Serbisyo Oro Mismo netteleradyo program, Director Cañete stressed that although he still awaits the needed requirements of Deped for the radio-based modality, he doubts that the existing radio stations with franchise can cater to all learning instructions.
“Pareho anang sa Nabunturan nga naay tulo ka estasyon, sakto na ba na para sa walo ka subject sa Grade 1, walo ka subject sa Grade 2, and so on kutob sa Grade 12? Like karong orasa, English atong subject, lahi-lahi manang English sa Grade 1, Grade 2 paingong Grade 12.” (Like in Nabunturan that has three stations, is it enough for eight subjects in Grade 1, eight subjects in Grade 2, and so on until Grade 12? Like for this hour, we will have the English subject; but learning instructions for Grade 1 English is different from Grade 2 to Grade 12.)
According to NTC 11, there are more than 20 unlicensed radio stations in the region.
Cañete said that if President Rodrigo Duterte would allow it, radio stations with transmitter power output of less than 500 watts can have probationary permits as community radios even without getting a franchise from the Congress.
He added that NTC can now supervise and manage these stations as they will also register their transmitters and get licenses for their technicians.
Cañete also recommended that Deped should train the teachers on managing radio programs, including the handling of radio equipment.
Due to the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic, Deped will impose different modalities of teaching for school year 2020-2021, which is set to begin on August 24, 2020.
Aside from the radio based instructions, other modalities include online classes, TV-based instructions, modular, blended learning, and home schooling. (PIA11, Michael Uy)
