17th Congress committee stresses need for cheaper, faster Internet, legislation upgrade

The Philippines House Committee on Information and Communications Technology has laid down its legislative priorities and thrusts for the 17th Congress, which include improving public access to the Internet and communications services, cyber security and enactment of bills on telecommunications services and standards.

“This organisational meeting of the committee for the 17th Congress will target enactment of bills on open access interconnections and convergence, enactment of bills for Free Wi-Fi connection in public areas, bills on cyber bullying, cyber security and cyber fraud, enactment of bills on telecommunications service and standards, and most importantly, the possibility of institutionalising the establishment of Philippine big data centres and an e-government master plan,” said Representative Victor Yap, who was Committee Chair.

Yap emphasised the urgent need for the government to enhance assistance to the public through accessible and affordable Internet services while Representative Enrico Pineda criticised the two telecommunications companies in the country for poor and expensive cellular and Internet services despite a study showing improved Internet speeds in the country.

It was also brought up during the hearing that one problem hindering the telecommunications companies from putting up more cell sites is the high number of permits needed to put up a site, even if it is just a single cell tower. According to Smart Communications representative lawyer Sherwin de Joya, a single tower could require up to 30 permits from local and national agencies.

Meanwhile, Secretary Rodolfo Salalima of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the DICT has not yet formalised its own legislative agenda for the improvement of policies needed by the department. “Since the department is just four months old, we have not yet finalised the policies that we need to suggest. But I have reviewed the proposed House bills and these are appropriate measures because it raised issues of privacy, improving public access in the internet and communication services,” said Salalima.

Other legislative agenda of the committee includes amending outdated provisions of the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines as well as the Public Service Act of 1936.

The committee also discussed the realisation of a national broadband plan and the accelerated deployment of fibreoptic cables as well as wireless technologies to improve Internet speeds.