Robredo says gov’t should incentivize telcos to fix internet problems

Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said the government should incentivize telecommunications companies so they could more aggressively enter communities and address the slow internet in the country.

During Super Radyo dzBB’s “Ikaw Na Ba? The Presidential Interviews,” which was also hampered by connection problems from Robredo’s end, she said that there are hindrances that prevent telcos from entering “hardship areas” like those in far flung communities and have limited subscribers.

“Ngayon, hindi sila nagiging aggressive kasi maraming hindrances. Halimbawa, ‘yung number one na hindrance, considered kasi siya na public utility na kailangan siyang humingi ng congressional franchise,” she said.

(They are not aggressive now because there are many hindrances. For example, the number one hindrance is that they are considered a public utility that has to seek for a congressional franchise.)

Robredo then stressed that the 85-year-old Public Service Act (PSA) needs to be amended to ensure that telcos would not have to need a congressional franchise.

“Para tuloy tuloy na, walang nang balakid sa kanilang pagpasok sa [communities]. Asikasuhin lang na sisiguraduhin natin na ‘yung accountability nila ay nandiyan pa din. ‘Yung transparency sa pag-proseso ay nandiyan pa din,” she added.

(So that it would be more continuous and there would be no more obstacles to their entry in communities. We just have to make sure that their accountability is still there. Their transparency in processing is still there.)

On December 15, 2021, the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill amending the PSA in a bid to open up the Philippines to more foreign investors.

Under the Senate Bill 2094, public utility refers to a “public service that operates, manages or controls for public use” which covers: distribution or transmission of electricity; petroleum and petroleum products pipeline distribution systems, water pipelines distribution systems and wastewater pipeline systems; as well as airports, seaports, public utility vehicles and tollways or expressways.”

Public services include telecommunications, air carriers, domestic shipping, railways and subways.

Robredo added that there should be a common tower for all telcos and a government intervention is thus needed to make this possible.

“Kailangan ng government intervention nito kasi gobyerno ‘yung makaka-areglo na isa na lang…parang lahat ng telcos working together. Ito male-level natin ‘yung investments na binubuhos. Hindi na siya nagi-invest do’n sa mga areas na meron siyang returns na tina-target niya,” she said.

(A government intervention because the government is the only one who can settle this by sort of having all telcos working together. This is how we can level the investments that are being poured. They would no longer invest in areas where they have targeted returns.)

Robredo said that if the government would help, it could incentivize further the telcos to enter “hardship areas.”

“Napakahalaga talaga ng government intervention dito kasi hanggang ‘yung mga pinakasulok-sulukan hirap na hirap pa rin ‘yung signal,” she added, noting that it would pave the way for more investments and incentives.

(Government intervention is very important because signals are still very difficult even in certain areas.) — RSJ, GMA News