Wi-Fi laptops' import fees seen as 'financial burden'

MANILA, Philippines - A government regulation imposing a P100 fee for every Wi-Fi-enabled laptop brought into the Philippines is “outdated" and a “financial burden" to importers and consumers alike. As a result, the IT Association of the Philippines (ITAP), a group which includes local distributors of computer makers such as Lenovo, will seek government approval to abolish the said rule. A product of an old law, the regulation restricts the inflow and distribution of radio handheld equipment, which like current Wi-Fi laptops, emit radio signals. The rule was issued decades ago when the government needed to know owners of communication tools that used radio frequency. “Although this cost already includes the paper work and the stickers, it’s still expensive considering there’s still separate importation tax for the shipment," said ITAP president Vicky Agorilla, who is also Lenovo Philippines’ country manager. “Inevitably, this cost in passed on consumers in some way or another by local resellers." ITAP will soon seek the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cooperation in applying current importation rules on mobile phones, Agorrilla said. Instead of being billed per piece, cellphones are accounted for by bulk, making importation costs much cheaper. ITAP would likely join forces with COMDDAP (Computer Manufacturers, Distributors, and Dealers Association of the Philippines) as the two groups have basically the same concern with the NTC. ITAP director Carlo Subido said cellular phone makers and mobile operators also had the same problem in the early of the years of the mobile phone industry. “But they lobbied very hard and succeeded in removing that provision with an exemption order issued by then DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communications] secretary Josefina Lichauco," said Subido, who is also the business development manager of Intel Microelectronics Philippines. It makes no sense for the NTC to check and register each laptop unit that is entering the country. “What’s the use of that information? Are they tracking the down the serial number of each unit sold to this or that person?" he asked. For his part, NTC commissioner Jorge Sarmiento said he is unaware of such an arrangement. He, however, urged the ITAP leadership to submit a formal letter of request so the agency can act on the issue. Subido said ITAP has already conveyed this concern to a NTC director so the request won’t have to go through the bureaucratic route. “But since the NTC has advised that we put it in writing, that’s what we would do," he said. - GMANews.TV