More funding for internet infra urged

A consumer group echoed calls for the government to allocate higher funding for internet infrastructure, saying the lack of broadband connectivity for some Filipinos should be addressed. 

"Hindi na dapat luho ang pag-access sa internet... ang dulot ng connectivity ng internet sa mga transaksyon sa pagitan ng mga konsyumer at mga negosyante, sa pagkalap ng impormasyon at pakikipag-ugnayan hanggang ordinaryong mamamayan, at sa pangkalahatang pagpapadala at pagpapasimple ng marami sa ating ordinaryong gawain," said Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) in a statement.

(Access to the internet should no longer be a luxury... Internet connectivity now facilitates transactions between consumers and businessmen, information gathering and communication among common people, and simplifying ordinary tasks.)

"Kailangang matugunan ang isyu ng kakulangan sa access sa internet sa lalong madaling panahon," it added.

(The issue of lack of internet connectivity should be addressed immediately.)

Stakeholders have long called for the boosting of the country’s internet connectivity including  CitizenWatch Philippines, which called for additional funding for broadband infrastructures.

Data from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) showed at least 65% of the population is still without internet access.

According to the CWP, the administration should address the issue and invest in infrastructure such as the Private Sector Advisory Council's proposal for an additional P240 billion funding to the DICT to help deploy 5G connections faster.

In early April, an independent research organization also called for the revision of the National Building Code of the Philippines to address leasing fees.

In June 2023, the World Data Lab on the Internet Poverty Index showed at least 20 million Filipinos are “internet poor” or do not have the financial capacity to avail of at least 1 gigabyte (GB) of internet data per month.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News