Escudero: PH internet ‘pathetic,’ ‘unnaceptable’

Senator Chiz Escudero (Photo from Escudero’s official website)

MANILA – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero recently commented that the Philippines’ Internet service was ‘unnaceptable’ and its Internet speed was ‘pathetic.’

“The current situation in the country is, sad to say, unacceptable. The state of internet speed is pathetic, and unless we remedy this situation, our IT sector is likely to suffer in the long term,” he said.

Escudero then called on to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) to make immediate action on the country’s information technology (IT) industry.

“The government should crack the whip on our telecommunications companies. If they have to be mandated to allocate some of their earnings for improving internet speed, mainly through investing in more equipment and hardware, then so be it,” he said.

Escudero pointed out that while the telecommunications companies were earning big revenues, their customers were suffering from unsatisfactory service.

“These telcos have been going to town in the past few years telling their shareholders that they have been earning billions of pesos. But they conveniently forget the millions of subscribers and users who put those billions in their coffers but who continue to suffer from poor service,” he said.

“Something needs to be done very soon… The problem is that government agencies that are supposed to monitor these telcos and help consumers don’t seem to feel the urgency of the situation,” he added.

According to the latest Ookla report on internet speeds, the Philippines placed 21st out of 22 countries in Asia.

The senator then stressed the weight of the issue as he mentioned that the booming IT-BPO industry was relying heavily on internet services.

“The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) recently reported that it was targeting $25 billion in revenues and 1.3 million jobs by 2016. Even these targets might be affected if our internet service in the country does not improve, and we might see these jobs go to other countries in the region that can provide investors and clients better internet services,” he said.