As disasters piled up all across international Christian broadcaster FEBC’s coverage areas in the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia this week, staff struggled to keep the radio broadcasts on air to guide those in crisis.FEBC swung into well-practised crisis mode. DZAS (its local community radio station in the Philippines) was back on air by Sunday. DZFE (its other Manila-based FM station) is also functioning as a coordination and distribution centre for aid.
Flood waters poured into the FEBC shortwave installation building in Bocaue, Philippines, with four high-powered transmitters that broadcast to 54 language groups of Asia (36 hours total daily). These were taken off air for a few days, while staff worked around the clock to clear the mud and dry out the equipment, in order to restore broadcasts as early as possible. By Thursday the transmitters were back in action, with no permanent damage.
(Source: FEBC)