THE Local School Board (LSB) of Bacolod City has approved a resolution urgently requesting the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for the approval of a special permit to the Department of Education (DepEd)-Division of Bacolod City, to put up and operate a radio station with a frequency capacity of 100 watts for the educational use of students.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Monday, July 6, 2020, the City Council unanimously approved the request of the Local School Board last week and its resolution will be forwarded to the NTC.
He said this is one of the requirements so that the City can put up a radio station for the educational use of students in the city.
He added this school year, delivery modalities include modular distance learning, online distance learning, and TV/Radio-based instruction.
Familairan noted that it was explained to them the options on blended learning for this school year, and the radio-based instruction is the most practical, economical and affordable to the city’s residents.
“This is for our students who cannot afford to buy laptops and no internet signal, especially in the rural areas of the city,” Familiaran said.
Councilor Renecito Novero, chairperson of the City Council committee on education, said that the city plans to put up a tower for studios as part of the City's preparation with DepEd-Bacolod for distance or blended learning for the school year 2020-2021.
He said it’s a community radio station intended for the educational use of students. At the same time, it can be used for information campaigns and emergencies such as calamities, natural disasters, among others.
He added Mayor Evelio Leonardia already instructed Executive Assistant Moises Dela Cruz to personally follow up with the local NTC office in the city.
Novero noted that they are eyeing to put up four to five studios that will cater to the students from kindergarten to Grade 3, Grade 4 to Grade 6, First year to Fourth year High School, and e Senior High.
Novero said the budget will be taken from the Special Education Funds which for one tower of 100 watts will cost P7 million to P10 million.
"So we will wait for the reply of the NTC so we can start to prepare for it," he said.
DepEd earlier announced that students are not required to buy gadgets nor attend online classes as the country shifts to a "blended" form of learning amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Classes will start on August 24 and expected to end in April 2021.