EMBRACING THE NEW NORMAL (Holding On to Profitability and Excellence)

ALIW Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) celebrates its 30th year with a stronger commitment to excellent public service amidst the continuing challenges of a global pandemic.

More than a year since the world shifted to the New Normal, Aliw Broadcasting continues to thrive in delivering only the latest and most relevant news and information, as well as soothing music and entertainment. This is made possiblethrough the 11 radio stations that it operates around the country with its flagship radio stations DWIZ 882 AM and 97.9 Home Radio FM.

Ever since Aliw Broadcasting was founded in 1991 by the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, it has continued to deliver quality news, public service, intelligent commentaries, and entertainment to the Filipino people.

When Ambassador Cabangon passed away in 2016, his son, current Chairman and President D. Edgard A. Cabangon, continued the legacy of his father and lived up with dedication to public service and vision to be an instrument to enlighten and inspire people towards progress and excellence.

In 1994, DWIZ officially switched from 25,000 watt to its current 50,000 watt transmitter facility —reaching a wider audience with its crisp and clear broadcast to disseminate factual news and entertainment nationwide.

It further extended its reach with its viewers and listeners through multiple channels such as its website, Facebook and YouTube live streaming, and the DWIZ and Home Radio Apps, to provide timely updates and quality music to our fellow Filipinos, not just locally, but globally.

The use of these platforms allowed the generation of data analytics for DWIZ 882 and 97.9 Home Radio programs which helps the station to harness data and use it to identify new opportunities for more efficient operations and higher profits.

The new platforms resulted in the growth of active viewers and listeners from both domestic front and overseas, especially from United State, Japan, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Australia, Qatar and Taiwan.

OVERCOMING HURDLES

The path that the company took to reach this point was not easy. Certain variables, such as the country’s economy and the COVID-19 pandemic, took their toll. Aliw Broadcasting, through the leadership and guidance of Chairman D. EdgardCabangon, immediately adopted measures to adjust with work-related restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

It applied a people-first mindset as it stretched its modern resilience planning —prioritizing the safety and well-being of its workforce and giving support to meet their needs. Such employee support included providing services for transportation during the Luzon-wide total lock-down.

As a result of the efforts doubly exerted to sustain its profitability, ABC did not implement major retrenchment which most of the companies were forced to do. Instead, the companyopted and was able to maximize the use of alternative means of communication, such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and social media, to implement work-from-home scheme and activate remote working capabilities. These were utilized not just by its employees but also by its broadcasters and anchors to gradually embrace the “new normal”.

“I greatly appreciate the efforts of each and every member of the Aliw Broadcasting Family. We need your dedication and support now more than ever in the middle of the challenges brought by the pandemic. During these trying times, we all have to sacrifice a little and learn to adopt to the changes around us,” Chairman Cabangon stressed.

He added that it is such a blessing that ABC reached 30 years and is poised to stay in the industry for a long time. “We should all be thankful that we continue to be a strong organization for 30 years now. That, alone, is a blessing,” he added.

CHANGES AMID THE CHALLENGES

With the limitations that the pandemic has brought, AliwBroadcasting Corporation’s AM and FM Station in Manila — DWIZ 882 and 97.9 Home Radio, made some adjustments and changes with their programming schedule such as implementing shortened broadcast time and days.

As the government began to loosen restrictions, the company decided to allow skeleton workforce in its offices. Health and safety protocols were strictly enforced in the workplace to protect all employees who needed to report for work.

Aside from the broadcast challenges that the company got to grips with, the Sales Department continued to be pro-active in their duties and continued to pitch proposals to several companies and advertising agencies via e-mail and online meetings to yield profit and to contribute to the economy as it gradually opened up.

HOPEFUL AHEAD

In commemorating its 30th anniversary, Aliw Broadcasting Corporation commits to continue its broadcast in accordance with the high standards set by the late Ambassador CabangonChua. With Chairman D. Edgard Cabangon at the helm, AliwBroadcasting Corporation has enough reasons to be hopeful despite the global public health crisis.