‘Amend Public Service Act to upgrade telco services' --- Robredo
The country’s slow internet speed needs “government intervention” to eliminate the congressional franchise requirement and build common towers in hardship areas, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo said on Monday, Jan. 31.
If she wins the presidency, Robredo will push to amend the Public Service Act to ensure that telcos will not be required to apply for a franchise anymore.
During an interview on “Ikaw Na Ba: The Presidential Interviews” on DZBB, the country’s lone female presidential candidate for the May 2022 polls recognized the problems with internet speed as she herself has had a hard time in her internet connection during Monday’s radio interview.
“Kailangan talaga ng mas maayos na (It really needs a better) government intervention para mas maraming (so more) investments, mas maraming (more) incentives na binibigay para mas maraming (that are being given so more) telcos na mag-interest na mag-invest dito (will have an interest to invest here),” she said.
The government has to “incentivize” telecommunication companies to be “more aggressive” in entering hardship communities with low internet signal or without a signal at all.
“Pag tumulong na kasi ang gobyerno mas mai-incentivize siyang pumasok kahit doon sa mga (When the government helps, they will be incentivized to enter) areas na tinatawag nating mga (called the) hardship areas—iyon ‘yung areas na malalayo—iyong areas lang na konti ang subscribers (—the far-flung areas—the areas with few subscribers),” Robredo explained.
“So, napakahalaga talaga ng (it is really important the) government intervention dito kasi hanggang ‘yung mga pinakasulok-sulukan hirap na hirap sa signal (here because until the far-flung areas, the signal is very weak),” she added.
In December 2021, global internet monitoring firm Speedtest by Ookla showed that the Philippines ranked 90 out of 138 countries in mobile internet speed and 72 out of 181 countries in broadband internet speed.
In an earlier virtual town hall meeting with the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, the Vice President already highlighted how internet speed can help in the flexible working arrangement she plans to negotiate with the BPO industry if she wins.
READ: Robredo seeks decentralization of BPO industry, improved internet service
Also, she said it will help decentralize the industry, allowing companies to offer jobs to people in the provinces.
Robredo mentioned two hindrances as to why telcos do not invest more in the country’s internet speed: the first one is the requirement of a congressional franchise since telcos are considered public utility, and the second is the establishment of a “common tower” provided by the government to lessen the investment burden on the private companies.
She will also wants the companies to “work together” and level the investments, though this will only be possible with the “common tower.”
However, Robredo also highlighted the need to ensure “accountability” and “transparency” in the processes if the congressional franchise will be eliminated.
“Wala ng balakid sa kanilang pagpasok, asikasuhin lang. Asikasuhin lang na sisiguraduhin natin na iyong (There should be no hindrance to their investment, let’s just fix it. Let’s just fix it to ensure that their) accountability nila ay nandiyan pa rin. Iyong (is still there. The) transparency sa pag-proseso nandiyan pa din (in the process is still there),” she said.