The station was established in 1973 by Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation, a company owned by the late Marcos crony Roberto Benedicto, on 1160 AM under the call letters DWWA. In November 1978, it transferred its frequency to 1206 AM, in response to the adoption of the 9 kHz spacing on AM radio stations in the Philippines under the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975. In 1984, it changed its call letters to DWAN.