Ang Probinsyano Party-list representative Alfred delos Santos teamed up with veteran journalist Ces Drilon to host Basta Promdi, Lodi, a radio show that aims to promote local products and businesses, address pressing concerns in the country’s many provinces, and advocate for rural development.
The radio program airs from Monday to Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on RMN-DZXL 558 with livestreaming on RMN’s official Facebook page. The program has various segments, including news, features, and a portion dedicated to the concerns of the different provinces that may be forwarded to the different local government units.
“I think it’s time that we put the spotlight on our kababayans in the provinces, to highlight their stories and show that they are ‘lodis.’ Magiingay kami on their behalf. Sana maging boses kami ng mga probinsyano.‘Yun yung aim,” Drilon said in a virtual press junket.
Congressman Delos Santos shared that it has always been their intention to have a radio program to reach the different provinces of the country. Basta Promdi, Lodi was temporarily halted due to the pandemic.
“The show is to give recognition to the promdi,” he told Manila Standard Entertainment.
“The focus of the radio program is aligned with our current projects – be more accessible to our kababayan. The show will have a supplemental role in how we tackle and provide resolutions to promdi issues and concerns,” he added.
As a “returning probinsyana” and journalist, Drilon was the perfect candidate to be the co-host for the program, Congressman Delos Santos explained.
“As a newbie in Congress and especially in the media, we always wanted someone with integrity, credibility, and experience who can teach us and guide us,” he said.
Drilon expressed her excitement to co-host the radio program, “I’m more exposed to farmers because it’s aligned with what I’m doing.”
The hosts noted that they look forward to “Promdi Pride”—a segment in the radio show that trains the spotlight on businesses and products from the different provinces—which encourages people to support local products and businesses.
“When you do stories like this, malaki ang impact sa iba. It’s inspiring and we’re at a time that we want to inspire people, ayaw natin ng masyadong nakakalungkot,” Drilon related.
“There are many of them, ‘di lang natin naha-highlight. So I hope we become an instrument, our show becomes an instrument, to be able to tell their stories and inspire others,” she ended.