Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua tries out the operational capability of one of the radios that the Chinese government donated for the government-owned media groups under the Presidential Communications Operations Office after a simple turn-over ceremony in Malacañan Palace on Monday. Exequiel Supera, Malacanang Photo
MANILA - (UPDATED) The Chinese government on Monday turned over 450 digital transistor radios to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), as part of a cooperation agreement between Beijing and Manila.
A photo released by the Palace shows Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar receiving the donation from Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua.
"This is symbolic of the different projects that is a result of the bilateral communications, MOU (memoranda of understanding), that the Chinese government and the Republic of the Philippines, through the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), had signed last year," Andanar said.
The donation is part of the cooperation between PCOO and its Chinese counterpart which includes government media and executive management training.
Programs under the training were "tailored" to the specific needs of Filipino officials, Zhao said.
As part of the agreement between the PCOO and its Chinese counterparts, the PCOO will send a delegation to China for official exchanges and media training.
The Chinese government is also planning on providing the People's Channel a radio transmitter to enlarge its coverage.
Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Information will help rebuild PTV-4, Radyo ng Bayan and the Philippine News Agency.
Annual scholarships for PCOO executive and employees will also be offered.
"These activities are simply the first steps to be followed by a variety form of exchanges and cooperation," Zhao said.