iWant iWant….

The Dutch have a saying that often applies to kids or demanding people that goes: “Ik wil, ik wil, een pak op mij bil. Translated in English the crass version would be: “I Want,” “I Want”; a slap on the ass. Another version would be the saying: “Those who move by the inch and want by the yard, should be kicked by the foot”.

In the field of telecommunications, it is clear that there is a deafening roar from consumers, regulators and politicians demanding that Globe and Smart/PLDT deliver quality service for mobile and internet. There is also a community of “academicians” or theorists who have their own opinion about how the telecoms industry in the Philippines should be managed and regulated by government. Of course the telecoms companies also have their own take or view on why mobile and Internet services in the country will never ever reach the heights the public demand.

At the end of the day, we may come to realize that we all have to bring something to the table in terms of real solutions and real sacrifices instead of mere opinion and complaints. For starters, we need to figure out WHO IS IN CHARGE?

During the P-Noy administration, I always questioned why the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was dissected from the DOTC and placed under the Office of the President given the fact that I don’t know of any executive in Malacañang who had the technical competency or the political will to deal with the problems. Right now, the Duterte administration will have to decide if the NTC stays under the Office of the President, be returned to the DOTC or allowed to operate and regulate telecoms companies independent of any political meddling. I am still unclear whether or not the NTC has been swallowed up by the new Department of Information Technology and Communications or not, but already there are some critical murmurs about a former telco industry executive heading the DITC.

If we want to fix the problems in telecoms, then give the “NTC” real powers including big fines and confiscations if need be. If the “NTC” remains under the Office of the President so that its budget and quasi-judicial powers remain independent, then the “NTC” should have power over LGUs and certain “private entities” that obstruct government projects and programs under their corporate cloak and private property status. Now is the time for the Executive department to draft a proposed bill to deal with such technical or legal obstructions and it is time for Congress to pass such laws because it would apply to many other concerns as well, like right of way for PPP projects, right of way for traffic solutions in Metro Manila, etc.

Time and again I have personally witnessed how cell sites have been barred or blocked by barangay officials, city/town officials or board members of “private villages.” Many such projects that would normally be up and running in two months would end up taking 18 to 24 months because City Hall wants the agricultural land reclassified to commercial, because the local officials or village officials require the telco representatives or contractors to go house to house and get waivers or approval for the cell site or tower.

In two private villages in Makati, there were diplomatic, intelligence-surveillance and esthetic arguments thrown in the way of cell sites being built. But the very same opponents to new cell sites were also among the loudest critics of telcos. The most corrupt obstacle of them all is the required “special use permit,” a generic term for a meaningless piece of paper that legitimizes extortion the same way provinces require truckers and logistics companies to secure a city or provincial sticker for P500 to P1,000 in order to pass through their territory! All this is local government extortion.

So far, our quick look shows that the Office of the President will have to step in to determine who and what the “NTC” will be in the Duterte administration. Next, the “NTC” will have to get the unequivocal support from Congress by way of legislation and while the DILG sows fear in the hearts of corrupt local officials who abuse their local powers. Since business forums and public consultations seem to be the trend in the incoming administration, perhaps one thing that the “NTC” or the Duterte administration can do is to organize a meeting of the minds and set down goals, time lines and specifics in terms of coverage, customer expectations, corporate commitments, technical improvements etc.

Ordinary consumers have time and again stated that they have simple demands: Give the subscriber what the telcos promise in their service agreements particularly Internet speed, prices, coverage and transparency. Give us what you promised and what we pay for and not an interpretation of the service agreements or technical averages or marginal compliance.     

From there, it may be necessary for the Office of the Executive Secretary and the DOJ to sort out what roles other government offices really have such as the PCC or Philippine Competitiveness Commission and the SEC regarding the conduct of business of telcos. One observation made about government offices is that instead of enhancing or creating a positive atmosphere for business development, these offices tend to flex their muscles, talk a lot but achieve very little real change and worst, bring nothing to the table. In the case of the Competitive Commission, telco industry executives complain that the PCC officials have refused invitations to talk about “Duopoly” or their acquisition and cutting up the 700 MHz frequency and why it is bad for Philippine competitiveness.

When I suggested that most government officials are waiting until they get instructions from the incoming administration, one of the “players” retorted: “Honestly, do you think the industry players would put down P75 billion without even asking the incoming administration’s opinion on the matter?”  Apparently, it’s now a waiting game.

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