MANILA, Philippines – Make way for DJ Rody.
The public will soon be able to tune in when President Duterte begins hosting his own nationwide radio program over Radio-TV Malacañang (RTVM).
Duterte used to host a weekly radio program when he was mayor of Davao City.
He used the program to broadcast his administration’s projects and campaigns, aside from using it to name government workers or officials who are perceived to be corrupt. He also used it to name people who are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said an announcer’s booth was made especially for the President’s use in Malacañang.
“After many years and for the first time, we would see an actual radio booth for RTVM. It is going to be the official radio booth of the President and he would be the first to use it for his ‘Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa’ program,” Andanar said over dzBB yesterday.
He added that people would be hearing the broadcast “straight from Malacañang.”
A conference room that was seldom used by RTVM was used for the announcer’s booth.
RTVM was organized in 1986 following the EDSA revolution. The unit is involved in television coverage and documentation and in news and public affairs syndication of all the President’s activities.
It is one of the government’s main agencies to inform Filipinos of the government’s program, presidential activities and other updates.
Earlier, Malacañang produced the bi-monthly tabloid Masa, which contained stories on the fight against illegal drugs and the successes of government agencies.
Andanar claimed that Malacañang is not spending anything for the publication since it is printed for free by the National Press Office.
The Duterte government wanted to use all media, including TV and social media, to reach out to as many Filipinos as it can and keep them abreast of the goings-on of the administration.