By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Tuesday urged the government to boost the country’s Internet infrastructure program to enable the country to adjust to new realities brought about by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Angara pointed out that since the “work from home” seems to be the preferred work arrangement at the moment, the government should do its part in enhancing the broadband Internet services across the country.
“I think that work-from-home is obviously (the new norm). That’s already happening so that’s going to put a strain on our broadband bandwidth,” Angara said in an interview over ANC Headstart.
“So we have to make sure that the infrastructure is there and maybe to switch some of our spending because even though we have this free WiFi program, it is being done in tranches now,” he said.
“The crucial infrastructure now is broadband Internet because that’s going to be the wave of the future,” Angara said.
“It’s going to be about how we buy our food. It’s going to be how we order our clothes—it already is, actually. It’s going to be how we pay our bills and for many people it’s going to be how they earn a living going forward. It’s going to be how our kids study also. So that’s really very important,” Angara stressed.
Even the Senate, the senator pointed out, has allowed teleconferencing during plenary sessions. The Senate on Monday afternoon, passed a resolution amending the rules of the Senate to allow senators to attend plenary sessions through teleconferencing or hybrid sessions.
Angara said such move is necessary as it would be unwise for all Senate employees to come to work in an environment that could help spread the COVID-19 disease.
“Because the Senate has a thousand employees, I don’t think it’s wise to have them all come in. (I think the) work from home is the preferred work arrangement at the moment,” he reiterated.