Solon urges Smart, Globe to cut rates during enhanced community quarantine

Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez is urging telecommunication giants Smart and Globe Telecom to cut their rates for call and text rates as well data and broadband Internet amid the implementation of an enhanced community quarantine across Luzon.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Rodriguez said the rate reduction should last for 30 days and be part of the telecommunication companies' corporate social responsibility amid the national health crisis.

According to Rodriguez, people who are forced to stay or work from home due to the quarantine have no choice but to communicate with the outside world through their mobile phones or online platforms.

“That is really the social distancing means of communication now, with the movement of people being restricted to prevent this deadly coronavirus disease from spreading,” he stressed.

Rodriguez noted that the reduction in rates will not affect the profits of these telecommunication companies because the larger volume of calls and texts and increase data and broadband Internet use during the quarantine period will compensate for it.

He urged other telecommunication companies to do the same during the entirety of the enhanced community quarantine.

During the enhanced community quarantine, strict home quarantine will be implemented in all households, transportation will be suspended, provision for food and essential health services will be regulated and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be heightened.

The quarantine took effect on March 17 and will last until the midnight of April 13. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News