Palace to telcos: Filipinos want ‘world-class’ internet service

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos want a “world-class” telecommunication service, Malacañang told telco companies on Tuesday as the Philippines continues to trail behind other Asian countries in terms of internet speed.

“Hindi naman po inggrato ang sambayanan at hindi po natin binabalewala ‘yung mga naging improvement,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing with telco companies Globe, Smart, Converge, and Dito Telecommunity.

“Pero sa totoo lang po, ang ninanais po ng ating mga kababayan ay hindi lang po na mag-improve. Ninanais din po ng ating mga kababayan ‘yung ninanais ng Globe at saka ng Smart na maging world-class,” he added.

The Philippines ranks 32nd out of 50 Asian countries in terms of fixed broadband and 34th out of 50 in terms of mobile download speed, the National Telecommunications Commission said.

READ: NTC claims improved internet speed, but PH still tails other Asian countries

“At tapatan lang po tayo, at [rank] 34 in Asia, I don’t think we are world-class,” Roque said.

(Let’s be real, at 34 in Asia, I don’t think we’re world-class.)

Roque cited how President Rodrigo Duterte invited Global Telecom president Ernest Cu in Malacañang to ask what telco companies need to improve their services.

READ: Globe president meets Duterte; blames red tape for lack of cell tower

“Tinanong kung ano ang kinakailangan. Nag-deliver naman po ang gobyerno. Pero ginagawa po ito ng ating Presidente at ng ating gobyerno dahil importante po that we should give the best service to the Filipino people and yes, we should be world-class,” Roque said.

(They were asked what is needed and the government delivered. The President and the government are doing this because it’s important that we give the best service to the Filipino people and yes, we should be world-class.)

Telco firms have lamented the red tape they have to undergo to get permits to build cell towers.

In response, the Department of Interior and Local Government, Anti-Red Tape Authority, and other agencies have ordered the streamline of requirements, shortening the processing time for securing building permits from 200 days to a month.

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