Region 2

97.7 Mhz RADYO KALUGARAN COMMUNITY FM
MUNICIPALITY OF CLAVERIA, CAGAYAN

History

On 5 January 2010, MQ Mediazone Productions facilitated the forging of a Memorandum of Agreement between the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and the Municipal Government of Claveria to put up a Nutriskwela community radio station, now known as 97.7 Mhz Radyo Kalugaran Community FM. Kalugaran is an Ilocano word for townfolk.

Claveria is at the northernmost point of Luzon in the province of Cagayan. It is a 3rd class municipality with a population of 30,275 people in 5,767 households (2002 census). It is politically subdivided into 41 barangays.

Claveria is endowed with vast agricultural plains and rich bodies of water making farming and fishing the residents’ main sources of income.

The NNC-Claveria LGU MOA was signed by NNC Executive Director Assistant Secretary Maria-Bernardita T. Flores and Claveria Mayor Dr. Celia Layus, M.D.

The Claveria Municipal Government, in turn, entered into an agreement with the Grassroots Multi-purpose Cooperative (GMC). GMC is represented by its Chair, Inocencio Tablada, Jr.

For more than three decades, GMC has provided credit for Claveria’s agricultural workers, laborers, and displaced wage earners. Its commitment to assist and serve the grassroots has spawned a strong financial lending service as well as facilities for trading and marketing.

In its many years, GMC has established a reputation based on mutual trust, confidence and respect. The cooperative’s operation reaches as far as some parts of Apayao and the Ilocos provinces.

Aside from innovative economic reforms, Mayor Layus affirms her commitment to implement health and nutrition programs. As a partner in the newly established community radio station, Mayor Layus looks forward to the total eradication of malnutrition in Claveria. She is confident that Radyo Kalugaran broadcasting relevant and timely health and nutrition information will inculcate good practices among the population. Mayor Layus also believes that community radio is a powerful tool to promote Claveria’s tourism industry.

Hands-on-Training

A training-workshop was conducted 4-6 January 2011. The 37 participants included representatives from civil society groups, educators, health workers, municipal nutrition officers, barangay nutrition scholars, local business, local radio stations and representatives from the local government unit.

The 3-day schedule of activities covered detailed presentations on Radio Community Broadcasting with emphasis on broadcasting tools and their actual applications, including writing for news, radio plugs, reporting and a discussion on the Broadcast Code of Ethics. Test broadcasts were held simultaneously with the hands-on training.

On the second day of the training-workshop, Assistant Secretary Flores formally launched Radyo Kalugaran at the top Floor of the GMC Building.

At the launching, Assistant Secretary Flores reiterated the importance of proper dissemination of health and nutrition information. She said that the NNC believes in the power of media to inform and educate, particularly radio which has the capability to inexpensively but instantly deliver timely information to the poor and less advantaged and even in far flung areas.

On the third day, after the training-workshop, the participants elected from among themselves officers to Community Radio Council (CRC) and Station Operation Management. These officers were sworn in by Assistant Secretary Flores.

The Radyo Kalugaran CRC officers are:

CHAIRMAN: ELIZER SIMON
VICE CHAIRMAN: CORAZON ESTORQUIA
SECRETARY: TEDDY BALANAY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

YOUTH: CHRISTIAN CALIBOZO
FISHERFOLK: ALEX AGRA
PEACE & ORDER: MAJ. ALEX DELOS SANTOS
SENIOR CITIZEN: PABLITO PLANTA SR.
RELIGEOUS: NELIA HILARIO
WOMEN’S GROUP: AURELIA MAGABILIN
FARMERS: RODOLFO TAMBIO SR.
HEALTH (BNSHW): CONSTANCIA BALINTEC

While the Radyo Kalugaran station management is composed of:

STATION MANAGER: INOCENCIO TABLADA
PROGRAM MANAGER: SB RICHMOND JAY TUMANENG
BROADCASTERS: AMELIA PERDIDO and GIRLIE CATULIN
TECHNICIAN: CHARLIE BAUTISTA