Calls for the House of Representatives to investigate telecommunication companies (telcos) and Internet service providers (ISPs) for their dismal Internet service are beginning to snowball.
ACT-CIS Party-List Rep. Rowena "Niña" Taduran backed the proposed inquiry Sunday, saying it's a "great injustice" for consumers to suffer from very poor service despite conscientious payment of their bills.
“It is beyond belief how these Internet service providers can get away with their continuous billing charges despite non-service or failure to deliver the appropriate service to their consumers," said Taduran, an assistant Majority leader and former broadcast journalist.
“Even President Duterte said that these telcos no longer have a reason for their failure to develop their infrastructure with the passage of Bayanihan to Heal As One Act 2, which speeds up the application process for the necessary permits," she said.
"Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, sa tingin ko nagdadahilan lang ang mga ‘yan. Gusto lang tumabo nang tumabo. Hindi umaaksyon sa reklamo ng consumers dahil wala namang nagpaparusa sa kanila (But if you ask me, I think they're just making excuses. All they want is profit. They don't act on consumer complaints because nobody holds them accountable)," Taduran noted.
Earlier this month, Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-List Rep. Bernadette Herrera filed House Resolution (HR) No.1193, which prods the House to probe telcos and ISPs for their poor service, in aid of legislation. The Philippines has become a punchline for its snail-paced Internet connection, despite having some of the higher rates in the region.
“I support Congresswoman Bernadette Herrera’s call for an investigation on slow Internet speed. But I would like to move for a deeper investigation regarding the inability of these telcos to deliver what is due their customers," Taduran said.
She reckoned that these Internet providers should be punished for accepting new subscribers even though their infrastructure cannot handle all of them. "They should return the money of the consumers who kept on paying for undelivered service...They should be held accountable,” she concluded.