Ang mga negosyante, particularly ang Foundation for Economic Freedom, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. ug ang University of the Philippines School of Economics Alumni Association, mipadayag sa ilang kabalaka sa rekomendasyon sa pipila ka senador pag-maintain sa industriya komunkasyon isip usa ka ‘public utility.’
Matud nila, kon kini isipon nga usa ka public utility, makapugong kini pagpasaulod nganhi sa atong nasud sa langyaw’ng puhonan, nga gikinahanglan kaayo, “to address the gaps in access to information communication technologies and internet services.”
Ang Senado, pinaagi sa Senate Bill 2094, naglaraw pag-amendar sa Public Service Act (PSA) diin kining maong balaudnon, “seeks to distinguish public utilities from public services, as well as limit the definition of public utilities to natural monopolies such as distribution and transmission of electricity, water and sewerage.
“The Constitution sets a 40 percent limit on foreign ownership for public utilities,” nga kon ang maong mga proposed amendments ma-aprobahan, “it would open the telecommunications and transportation sectors to greater foreign investments.”
Kining maong balaudnon nga mag-amendar sa PSA usa kini sa mga balaudnon nga gi-certify ni Presidente Duterte nga urgent.
Matud sa maong grupo sa mga magpapatigayon, “retaining telecommunications as a public utility would go against the proposed definition of a public utility under SB 2094 as the industry is not a natural monopoly given the three major telco players and several internet service providers in the country.”
Atong masabot dinhi nga kon magpabilin nga ‘public utility, ang telco industry, magpabilin kini nga monopoliya sa pipila lang ka korporasyon, ug makasanta pagsulod nganhi sa atong nasud sa foreign investments. Sakto ba ning atong interpretasyon?
Ug nia pa: “In addition, the groups said the country needs to attract more investments in the telco industry to address the digital divide, citing data from the National Economic and Development Authority that 64 percent of barangays do not have telecommunication power, 88 percent lack free WiFi zones, and 70 percent have not been deployed with fiber optic cables.”
Ato ning usbon: 64 porsiyento sa mga barangay walay telecommunications power; 88% walay libreng WIFI; ug 70% walay kutay sa fiber optic cables. So, daku kaayo ang kakulangan kon telecommunications power maoy atong hisgutan.
Kon dili kini nato ma-address kining maong kakulangan, “access to education is hampered, and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and our workforce will have difficulty in participating in the digital economy.
“We need to liberalize the telecommunications sector to foster competition and provide better quality services at lower cost. SB 2094 will help achieve this and greatly benefit Filipino consumers and the business community as a whole,” dugang pamahayag sa mga negosyante.
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By the way, timan-i kini: “Comelec rejects extension of registration period; OKs longer hours, additional days for voter sign-ups.” Unless dunay kausaban, until September 30 ra kutob ang registration.
Lugwayan ang pagpa-rehistro matag adlaw hangtud sa alas 7:00 sa gabii. Pagseguro, check with your Comelec offices.