One of the fastest growing expatriate communities in Bahrain could be getting its own radio station for the first time ever.
According to a recently published tender, the Information Ministry is calling for bids to operate the first-ever Filipino radio station.
The call for bids, published on the Bahrain Tender Board website, notes that the purpose of this auctioning is to “sell out the operation and management of Filipino Entertainment Radio” on the 107.2MHz frequency for a period of five years.
According to the document, submitted bids must have a value “not less than BD10,000 per month” or the bid will be disqualified.
In addition, bidders are required to hold a valid local Commercial Registration and provide an initial bond of BD4,000 or one per cent of the tender value.
During a previously conducted interview, Filipino ambassador Anne Jalando-On Louis told the GDN that there are currently more than 57,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the kingdom.
“Having a radio station focused on our community would be a huge boost,” Filipino Club Bahrain president Ric Advincula told the GDN.
“It would allow us to create talk and news shows providing updates for expatriates, as well as information around services that might be available to them.
“There have been previous attempts at doing something like this through social media platforms, like Facebook, but they ran into difficulty sustaining and managing the operations.
“Not to mention, we can highlight and enjoy Original Pilipino Music (OPM), as well as programming specifically in Tagalog, and the community events that we hold regularly in the kingdom.”
Currently, 104.2 Mirchi FM is the only station targeted specifically at an expatriate community.
While there have been Filipino social media news accounts in Bahrain, as well as an online podcast, the community has never had a presence on the airwaves.
“Having a presence on the radio waves would be a significant step for our community, and I’d love to hear programming that both entertains and educates not just our community but all citizens and residents of the kingdom,” Filipino content writer and editor Nanju Francisco added.
“Programming in Taglish – a combination of Tagalog and English – would be accessible to all Filipino expats in Bahrain, while also educating and informing others interested in the community.
“From Philippines news to entertainment, celebrity gossip, concerts and arts events, radio drama and more, a station like this could hear from the community as much as it informs and entertains them.”
The final day to purchase tender documents is August 29 and submissions will close on September 6.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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