How to set up a community radio station in Quezon City, Philippines? Equiptment? Human Resources? Licences?

Question

I need to set it up for our foundation, the Bagong Henerasyon (New Generation) foundation Inc. (BHFI). Its a non-profit organization for young people and women. All our services are free but with a radio station, we think that we can do more...

I hope that you can help...

Send me a Proposal (if possible)

Answer 1

1. GENERAL GUIDANCE
a) Philippines
This 70-page document gives extensive guidance on setting up, and operating, a community radio station. As it's based on the Philippine experience, it has details of pertinent legal requirements.
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/17593/11014593681Com_radio.pdf/Com_radio.pdf
b) The Community Radio Network has some guidance too, but it's specifically about India. It may be a useful second reference document. Have a look around the site for other useful general information.
http://www.communityradionetwork.org/leftlinks/crs_howto

2. LICENSING
Radio station licensing and frequency authorisation is controlled by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Its site has plenty of information of use to you, and the licences that you will need. I imagine that your proposed station will come under the heading "Safety and Special Radio Services (SSD)". The NTC will be able to advise you (it is based in Quezon City, by the way), if you don't find the answers in the first document above.
http://www.ntc.gov.ph/licensing-frame.html

3. OTHER SOURCES OF ADVICE AND INFORMATION
a) Other Philippine community radio stations - there are more than 45, apparently, and the Tambuli Project was set up to help them get started. Community radio stations include:
(i) Radio Ivatan, Basco in the islands of the Batanes
(ii) name unknown, Laurel in Batangas province
(iii) name unknown, the island of Panay
(iv) name unknown, Ibajay in Aklan province
(v) name unknown, Banga in Aklan province
(vi) name unknown, Olutanga island in Zamboanga del Sur
(vii) name unknown, Partido in Camarines Sur
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=18085&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
http://www.i4donline.net/aug04/tambuli.asp
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/269.html
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/projects/asia/philippines.html
(vii) Tubajon Community Radio, Tubajon, Surigao del Norte
http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds07-11-99/experiences-269.html
b) AMARC - Asia Pacific (World Association of Community Radio Stations)
http://www.asiapacific.amarc.org/site.php?lang=EN

4. Other webpages of interest
http://www.fao.org/sd/CDdirect/CDan0026.htm
http://www.isiswomen.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=399&Itemid=1

5. Radyo Cagayano - a cautionary tale
a) Arson attack, station razed to ground, 2 July 2006
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/07/07/18286136.php
b) Murder of Antony Licyayo, radio producer, 27 November 2006
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19992