Poe seeks review of investments in network services

MANILA, Philippines - There should be a review of the government’s existing infrastructure and investments in network services to find ways to improve Internet speed in the country, Sen. Grace Poe said yesterday.

According to her, the government may need to upgrade and invest more in network infrastructure and services if it wants a greater number of Filipinos having access to faster and cheaper Internet in the coming years.

“Such a review is necessary so we may know exactly how the government can improve Internet connectivity throughout the country, and help boost and support the growth of the ICT (information and communications technology) industry,” she said.

The Senate committees on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship and on public services previously conducted hearings on the impact of slow and expensive Internet connection provided to consumers. It found the situation adversely affecting the ease of doing business in the country.

In Poe’s Senate Resolution 1562, she noted that access to the Internet has opened up new possibilities for the fulfillment of the right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution and international laws.

Poe said even the United Nations recognizes Internet access as a human right, citing a 2011 report by the UN Human Rights Council emphasizing the “unique and transformative” nature of the Internet, which allows individuals to exercise a range of human rights and promote the progress of society as a whole.

“Internet has become a key means by which individuals can exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” she said.

Citing a report by New York-based social media agency We Are Social, Internet penetration in the Philippines stood at 36 percent in January 2014, with 38 million Internet users.

The study indicated that 32 percent of the country’s population is engaged in social media. Of the estimated 105 million Filipinos, 34 million are active Facebook users while 106 million have active mobile subscriptions.

But Poe said the problem of slow Internet connection in the country prevents Filipinos from “maximizing the benefits of the global information superhighway.”

“The Philippines has been lagging in terms of average Internet download speed globally and in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region,” she said.

Poe added that the government would probably have to step in with more investments into network infrastructure in order to help address this issue.

She noted that the government spent P1.6 billion last year and earmarked P3.18 billion this year to develop the ICT sector.

“Now, the government is moving to increase the budget for ICT development next year with a proposed allocation of P4.37 billion in 2016,” Poe said.