MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 31 (PIA) --- The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) recently inaugurated here one (1) of the repeater stations of the DxED FM 99.7.
The inauguration which took place last May 26 at the Division of Lanao del Sur II-A in People’s Park, this city, was graced by DepEd-ARMM Secretary Baratucal Caudang, Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) Program Officer Reagan Dagadas, AusAID-Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) Program Consultant Ramon Bobier, and Bureau of Public Information Director Ali Macabalang.
“Funded by the AusAID through its BEAM program, the radio repeater station was established to expand the capacity and coverage of the main radio station located in Cotabato City to reach out to more learners, teachers, and pupils across the ARMM.
Caudang said the main radio facility does not have the capability to reach the different areas of the ARMM but with the repeater stations here and in Basilan they will be able to expand the coverage of their school-on-air program in this province and in the island provinces of the region.
He said they will also be utilizing the radio facility in disseminating information on the various programs and projects of DepEd-ARMM as well as the regional government’s programs including those of the different agencies in the ARMM.
Dagadas, on the other hand, emphasized the support of the Australian government in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and in providing education opportunities to all children particularly in difficult circumstances like in the ARMM.
“We understand that there are about 500,000 out-of-school children in the region, hence, this radio facility will provide the much-needed learning opportunity for these children,” he said.
In addition, Bobier said the repeater radio station is an education facility that will support the on-going Alternative Learning System of the education department primarily the Radio-Based Instruction (RBI) program.
An alternative delivery mode, RBI utilizes radio broadcast to expand access to education and increase equity in both formal and non-formal education, especially among out-of-school youths in remote communities. (PIA-10)
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