Federation of Visayas Radio Clubs

Get to know them as they serve the community in it's developmental efforts through radio communication when they relay and respond to any eventuality or emergency calls.

The Special Operation Team operating 24 hours daily and the monitoring groups, which is, a daily schedule assignment of three radio club members and one back up monitor in a specific day of the week making a roll call every 8:00 and 20:00 hours. The operation frequency assignment for FVRC 148.050 MHz. On simplex plus 2.500 kHz. On duplex. (Code Name ZERO).

History:

A decade ago, some energetic amateurs and civic conscious group decided to form an association called The Federation of Cebu Radio Clubs or FCRC. This was composed of amateur, personal radio service and commercial radio clubs within the Province of Cebu.

Objectives:

Geared towards total involvement in the community service in times of emergencies through Radio facilities. The club members operate on their respective NTC assigned radio frequencies. FCRC which duly recognized by the NTC Regional Office VII as the legitimate radio organization through its Memorandum of Association that was first signed between the former Commissioner Jose Luis A. Alcuaz of NTC, former Director Danil T. Sy of NTC RO-VII and the ten original signatory club members since Novemebr 13, 1988 at Sacred Heart Center, D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City. The ten pioneering clubs are ALERT, CANINE, CARL, CIFYA-CU, EAGLECOM, CEBU FILIPINO-CHINESE VOLUNTEERS FIRE BRIGADE, INTERFACE, PUGAD LAWIN, RANC-7, and RESCUE, INC.

The Federation was first headed by the President of the Canine Amateur Radio Club with the position of Chairman of the Council of Presidents wherein each Chairman served for one year term and is rotated among all club members by elections

Motivated by the same desire to serve the community in it's developmental efforts through radio communication, the Federation has held several meetings preparing and coordinating work plans for special community projects as well as emergency plans to better community service. They serve to prevent redundancy of services offered by individual radio clubs, and to offer the community a better forum to receive ideas, suggestions, reports and requests for assistance.

On July 18, 1990, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) of Region VII, at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr., Jones Avenue, Cebu City, convened a resolution no. 2, which aim to recognize the voluntary support and assistance of the Federation of Cebu Radio Clubs in their great endeavor to assist Disaster Coordinating Councils (DCCs) in facilitating disaster reports through its communication network all over the region in times of disasters.

The creation of Special Operation Team was established to determine the effective interconnection network for providing contacts among fellow hams and various local government units (LGU) involved in emergency situation using whatever meager resources an individual trained SOT member can facilitate or assist in simulated emergency or exigencies brought about by man-made to natural catastrophe.

The different radio club members of the Federation has been tasked to monitor the NTC assigned FCRC frequency, operating 24 hours daily. The monitoring groups, which is, a daily schedule assignment of three radio club members and one back up monitor in a specific day of the week making a roll call every 8:00 and 20:00 hours. This serves to relay and response to any eventuality or emergency calls. This has proven once more that because disaster has no color, creed, or affiliation, all club members are encouraged to prepare a disaster plan and inventory of equipment and support capabilities for possible deployment when the need arises.

During the Council of Presidents meeting held last 22 of May 1999, Saturday at the NTC conference room the majority member of the council affirmed and certified the modification of company title and endorsed the FEDERATION OF VISAYAS RADIO CLUBS for the official name of the association. Presently the Federation has a total of 37 Radio Club members from different part of Cebu, and from other cities, towns and provinces within the Visayas islands.

To date, the Federation is currently a member of the Cebu Peace and Order committee presently chaired by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry. It has also the pillar of guidance from the good Director, Eng'r Isidro B. Butaslac and assistant to the director Eng'r Jess Laureno, the advisory board and the generous people of NTC RO VII. The NTC provided the operation frequency assignment for FCRC 148.050 MHz. On simplex plus 2.500 kHz. On duplex. (Code Name ZERO).

Services Rendered:

Government-led projects such as: Sinulog festival, Sanayon, Barangayan, Philippine National Games, Cebu City Mini-Olympics, 1st Milo-Cebu City Olympics, All Saints Day, Alay-Lakad and League of Municipalities in the Philippines wherein the Federation was in the forefront of planning and implementation of the said activities.

Select Radio Club members are conducting traffic reinforcement during peak hours and situation nets relaying traffic information and situation in Metro Cebu as well as in nearby cities. They also announce and forecast the daily weather bulletins based on PAGASA weather reports. The Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade is one the radio club members whose specialty in fire fighting have earned the public's respect and trust.

notes taken by: EHCQ (1999)
with Richard T. Sy (DU7 RSY) - Chairman, FVRC