The New Year is barely a month old, yet we already have a lot to thank the Lord! And I’m indeed so delighted to share some of these.
On January 10, 98.7 DZFE-FM “The Master’s Touch” resumed its Sunday broadcast. After more than six long years, the station is now back to its 18/7 broadcast (18 hours daily x 7 days). Along with this development is an interesting balance between classical music offerings and biblical insights complementing its tagline, “Music of the masters and the Master’s Word.”
In September 2003, the station cut down its hours by over 40%. Three years later, the process of rebuilding the broadcast, with a commitment to quality programming in support of 98.7 DZFE-FM’s joint classical music and biblical spirituality focus, began with the reclamation of the 10pm-12mn block. The gaping five hours in the afternoon were brought back on June 9, 2008, bringing the broadcast to 18 hours a day, 6 days a week.
We also thank God for the arrival of the brand-new transmitter for our station 1143 DZMR “Missions Radio,” located in Santiago City, Isabela. Some of you have been faithfully praying with us for sufficient funds to purchase this and other broadcast equipment. The transmitter is now with the Bureau of Customs and as soon as all the paper work is cleared up, it will be shipped to Isabela within the next two weeks. Construction work continues in the studio building and the tower area. God willing, the station will begin its operations by April of this year. Hopefully too, test broadcasts will be done by March.
Here’s another praise item – one that has been our burden for quite a long time already. We received a final notice that FEBC has been cleared of the duties and taxes for the broadcast equipment donated by FEBC Saipan back in 2002. Since then, we have been coordinating with various government agencies as we worked out legal means to seek exemption for the imported equipment. You see, the taxes ran in the millions of pesos – funds that could otherwise be channeled toward the ministry operations. As we worked with lawyers to study the appropriate Philippine laws that cover our request, we were of the firm conviction that our appeal was legal and valid. However, it seemed like at every twist and turn along the process, we were facing a blank wall. Over these years, we’ve made countless follow-ups with various government offices, but each time, we would end up being asked to submit a new... more
