Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has issued a strong challenge to telecommunications companies (telcos) to improve Internet connectivity and provide free or low-cost services so Filipinos can have greater access to quality education, health care, and economic opportunities amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Sa lahat po ng telcos at internet providers, kung gusto ninyo talagang tumulong sa bayan, ngayon na po ang panahon. Ayusin ninyo po ang inyong mga Internet services,” he said. (To all telcos, if you really want to help the country, now is the time. Make your Internet services efficient.)
Go said that for E-learning, E-commerce, E-health, E-governance and the likes to succeed, the private sector must be willing to cooperate and contribute to the betterment of the country.
“Sana po, bilang pagmamalasakit sa taumbayan at bilang parte ng ating bayanihan efforts, gawin ninyo ang lahat sa abot ng inyong makakaya na maging mabilis, maayos at maaasahan rin ang inyong serbisyo lalo na sa Internet connection na kailangan nating lahat ngayon,” he appealed. (Improve your services to the best of your abilities, particularly your Internet connections that we all need as part of your concern to your countrymen.)
Go, chairman of the Senate Health and Demography Committee, had earlier appealed for the government and the private sector, particularly telcos, to work together to provide reliable Internet connectivity so that Filipinos can easily transition their regular activities online in order to avoid face-to-face transactions while there is a pandemic.
“Ito na po ang ‘new normal’. Necessity na po ang fast and reliable Internet. Huwag dapat magpahuli ang Pilipinas dahil importante ito para sa development ng mga Pilipino,” he said (This is now the new normal. A fast and reliable Internet is now a necessity. The Philippines should not lag behind because this is required for the development of Filipinos.)
By enhancing existing services, Go hopes students could connect better with their teachers, families could avail of health care in the comforts of their homes, and local businesses could widen their customer-base without leaving their area or putting their employees at risk.
“In just a few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way we work and communicate. As many schools and businesses were forced to go remote, we saw the true impact of the digital divide on our most vulnerable communities,” he said.
“If we want to limit the social and economic fallout of the pandemic and fast-track the nation’s recovery, we need to embrace broadband-friendly policies and accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet services, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” he added.
In a manifestation given before the Senate Committee on Finance, Go expressed concern for students who might have a hard time adjusting to the new way of schooling.
He asked Internet service providers (ISPs) not to add to the students’ hardships by ensuring seamless and improved services for all of their subscribers.
“Ako nga rin po… hirap din po sa paghanap ng signal para sa internet. Minsan kinakailangan pang lumabas ng bahay para gumanda or umayos ang koneksyon… ito po sana ang iniiwasan natin para sa ating mga kabataan na lumabas pa at doon po posibleng makakakuha sila ng sakit kapag sila ay lumabas na,” he said. I myself have a hard time looking for a signal to get an internet connection. There are times I had to go out of the house to get a good connection. Students should not go out of their homes to get internet connection. By going out of their homes, students might be infected with COVID-19.)
The senator from Davao also encouraged the private sector, particularly telcos, to offer their own assistance programs to educational institutions and low-income households, and provide teachers and students access to free or low-cost, high-speed Internet.
“Kung maaari, baka pwedeng isama ‘yan sa corporate social responsibility programs ng mga kumpanya. Malaki ang maitutulong ng pribadong sektor upang malampasan ang krisis na ito kung uunahin natin ang kapakanan ng taumbayan kaysa ang sariling interes at kikitain nila,” he explained. (I hope that you include in your corporate social responsibility programs by improving your services. The private sector can help us face the challenges of the current health crisis instead of your self interest and profits.)
Go is also pushing for a measure that will promote E-health services through telemedicine and other digital public health services as an alternative mode of providing accessible and quality healthcare.
Senate Bill (SB) 1803, the e-Health System and Services Act of 2020, which was filed by Go, will also establish an information and communication technologies-enabled and integrated Philippine healthcare system, guarantee quality of service, and ensure patient safety and protection.
Moreover, Go lent his support for Senate Bill 1591, also known as the Internet Transactions Act, which will create the E-Commerce Bureau that shall oversee the sector as well as safeguard the rights of both business owners and consumers engaging in online transactions. The bill also provides newly registered micro-enterprises engaged in e-commerce certain exemptions from national and local taxes.
Go said e-commerce will be crucial in the country’s recovery amid COVID-19 as it helps create new jobs and income opportunities, and ensure continuing economic activities while protecting the people’s health and safety.
However, Go emphasized that reliable Internet services are crucial to maximize economic opportunities available in the digital platform.
The Senator also filed SB 1738, the E-Governance Act of 2020, which will make the delivery of public services more efficient, responsive, and cost-effective through the use of Information and Communication Technologies to eliminate the need for face-to-face transactions, reduce red tape, raise service standards, and create more engagement between the government and its people.