Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and telecommunications companies to fulfill their promise to submit by July 13 detailed plans on improving internet service and coverage in the country amid increased demand from Filipinos going online with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Agencies and telcos need a nudge to act as fast as they can to bring the internet to everyone’s homes,” she said.
Poe said she wants to find out how many more towers telcos plan to build in the coming years to give the Filipinos a better online experience.
Following an earlier hearing conducted by the Senate public services committee which she heads, Poe asked for the submission of several reports to find out the progress of government and telcos’ initiatives in a bid to expedite the needed infrastructure to boost connectivity.
With the advent of online learning this coming academic year due to the health crisis, Poe said efficient connectivity is a must for the millions of students and educators.
The internet has also been crucial to the country’s healthcare system in addressing the pandemic and to businesses that have kept their operations via online transactions.
Poe said she expects the NTC to submit the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity given to Dito Telecommunity, the country’s third telco, and its full terms of reference including a copy of all required reportorial requirements and other submissions.
This, she said, should be accompanied by an NTC resolution granting Dito’s request of a six-month extension to comply with its commitment to build the necessary infrastructure to provide a speed of 27 megabits per second to cover 37 percent of the population in the next six months.
Poe said that on July 13, the DICT should also turn over updates on a joint memorandum circular to streamline the issuance of permits to build cell sites and related infrastructure.
The circular is expected to be signed by the DICT with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.