A consumer advocacy group urged lawmakers to eliminate lease requirements for broadband connectivity equipment, which it described as a major barrier to universal internet access.
With the internet now becoming indispensable as electricity and water, CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor Tim Abejo said it should be treated as an essential utility in both public and private developments.
“The digital economy demands seamless, reliable connectivity. Yet, property developers continue to impose exorbitant lease fees on telecommunications providers, driving up costs that ultimately burden consumers,” said Abejo.
“This has to stop. Internet connectivity is not a luxury—it is a necessity,” he stressed.
The group has been supporting the amendment of the National Building Code of the Philippines, which has remained unchanged since 1977 as it argued that the outdated law fails to recognize broadband connectivity as a utility that should be accorded the same stature in the Building Code as power and water utilities.
“We cannot afford to let a law passed nearly half a century ago dictate the development of our digital infrastructure. Today, broadband internet connectivity is the backbone of communication, business, education, and essential services,” Abejo emphasized.
He points out that telecommunications and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are being charged substantial fees—sometimes amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos annually—by property developers just to install fiber optic cables and other broadband infrastructure in residential and commercial properties.
“These costs directly translate to higher internet fees for consumers and slow down the expansion of broadband services across the country. This has become an income-generating scheme at the expense of every Filipino who depends on the internet for work, education, and daily life,” Abejo said.
“If we allow these excessive lease payments to continue, we are essentially blocking access to economic and social opportunities for millions of Filipinos,” he added.
CitizenWatch Philippines is also calling for broadband infrastructure to be given the same treatment as water and electricity—integrated into building designs from the outset and exempt from lease payments.
Abeho also pointed out that abolishing lease fees on broadband infrastructure would accelerate network expansion, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
“With a more supportive policy environment, telcos can redirect their resources toward improving last-mile connectivity instead of paying unnecessary overhead costs. Connectivity is not just about convenience—it is a human right in today’s world. We must ensure that all Filipinos, regardless of their location or economic status, have access to fast and affordable internet,” Abejo stated.
As the country moves toward full digital transformation, CitizenWatch Philippines warns that failure to address this issue will keep the nation at a disadvantage in the global digital economy.
“These are policy upgrades that must be given urgency by our legislators to empower our people to harness the benefits from a fast evolving digital ecosystem,” the group said,