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A citizen advocacy group is calling on the House of Representatives and the Senate to approve the proposed measure that seeks to amend the National Building Code of the Philippines to make it more responsive to the modern demands for broadband connectivity. 

“We call on legislators to prioritize the amendment of the Building Code to include telecommunications and broadband network connections to be installed with the same stature as water and electricity facilities which are already integrated early in the design stage and free of lease payments,”  said Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.

“Having broadband connection in every workplace, commercial and residential areas should now be a standard amenity the same way that adequate utility easements are provided for electricity and water,” he added.

Abejo, a lawyer, said broadband connectivity is an essential tool that should be accessible to the public through adequate space allocation in all public and private property developments.

The measure in question is House Bill (HB) No. 8534 authored by Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda.

Under the bill, it seeks to “provide for all buildings and structure and property developments, a framework of minimum standards and requirements to regulate and control their location, site, design, quality of materials, construction, use, occupancy, maintenance, and ensure connectivity prior to occupancy".

“The critical role of telecommunications in keeping society together was demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic, when, despite unprecedented lockdowns, the global economy continued to operate,” Salceda said in the bill’s explanatory note.

Enacted in 1977, the current Building Code does not require water and electricity providers to pay leases to developers to install water tubing or electricity wiring for their services.

“For obvious reasons, the law at that time did not cover broadband connectivity,” Abejo said. “But now we have to adapt to the times and adjust to the growing demand for 24 by 7 access to wired and mobile broadband connection.”

He pointed out that property developers charge expensive lease payments that could reach hundreds of millions per year for fiber optic cables and other connectivity equipment.

Abejo said this makes it appear as an “income generating scheme” instead of a basic service provider for all who need internet access.

“These are substantial operating expenses that will impact the cost of internet services of consumers,” he stressed.

“We need to work together and be part of the solution to empower our country to keep pace with the fast innovations of the new global digital economy especially now that our economy is gaining momentum,” he emphasized.

“We join the call to recognize internet access as [a] human right that enables all people access to digital platforms for communication, information, and digital technologies that enhances human and economic development,” Abejo further said.

HB No. 8534 is currently pending with the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology.