Lawmaker warns ISPs over slow internet

MANILA, Philippines — Slow internet connectivity has plagued the Philippines even before the coronavirus disease did, but this should not be carried over into the so-called new normal where learning and business transactions are increasingly done online, an administration lawmaker said yesterday.

ACT-CIS Rep. Nina Taduran warned the country’s telecommunications giants that they should improve the capability of their internet service providers (ISPs) as government gradually eases strict lockdowns on businesses to revive the economy.

“Connectivity is particularly important at this time when most of the transactions we used to carry out face to face are now done on the internet, like online classes, work, meetings and tutorials,” Taduran said.

She cited a “rising number of complaints on social media” about ISPs that “failed to deliver on their promised internet speed,” which she said is “tantamount to deception due to false advertisement.”

“It is lamentable that internet service providers seem to have capitalized on the situation by taking on more subscribers than their networks can handle,” she added.

She urged the National Telecommunications Commission and the Departments of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Trade and Industry (DTI) to take action on this ineptness of ISPs in providing service.

“The provider has to supply a service that works exactly as described in their contract. It is just right that people get what they pay for. Hindi iyung naniningil kayong ISP’s ng mahal sa gumagapang na serbisyo (You ISPs cannot charge so much for slow internet service),” she said.

‘Consult stakeholders on school opening’

In a related development, Rep. Alfred Vargas said it would be best if the Department of Education (DepEd) consults all stakeholders, including parents, before classes in public schools start on Oct. 5.

“The online consultations will also help manage the expectations from stakeholders. There have been reports about misunderstandings between parents, teachers and students in private schools on how blended learning works,” he said.

The Quezon City congressman called on DepEd officials to hold online meetings with parents, teachers and students to get their feedback on blended learning.

“Complaints abound regarding the curriculum and the use of technology in online classes. These issues should be discussed before Oct. 5 to avoid further setbacks in learning,” the administration lawmaker said.

Rep. Fidel Nograles, for his part, said the country’s half a million public school teachers should be “prepared mentally” in light of the challenges brought about by the global health crisis, even as they prepare for the first-ever online learning school year.

“Our teachers also deal with various anxieties over the very uncertain circumstances that we are all living under,” said Nograles, who supports the DepEd’s move to hold mental health sessions for its leaders.

“As much as possible we should also exhaust all efforts to address the fears of our teachers and other frontliners, and in guaranteeing that they are fully equipped,” he said as he recognized that the issue is not only mental health but overall health.

Consider face-to-face classes – Leni

Vice President Leni Robredo renewed yesterday her call to the DepEd to reconsider face-to-face classes in areas where there are zero or “controlled” cases of COVID-19.

Robredo aired her appeal after Education Secretary Leonor Briones admitted that modular learning is expensive and has a negative impact on the environment.

“Until now we are still appealing (to DepEd) to use the risk assessment survey, that in places where face-to-face classes are feasible, they would be allowed to do so. For example, Batanes, which has zero case, Dinagat Islands, where cases are controlled, and other coastal areas,” Robredo said in her weekly program over dzXL.

“It’s hard to have a decision which is one-size-fits-all because schools have different situations,” she said.

She said the DepEd has been receiving enormous requests for bond paper, printers, risograph machines and ink.

“So, I think this (blended learning) would be really expensive. It may even be cheaper to just give the children gadgets,” she said.

Instead of holding physical classes the whole day, these could be done in two sessions – one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with limited number of students, Robredo suggested.

“At least difficult learners would be given more time (to absorb the lesson),” she said.

She said working parents are not available to guide their children under the distance learning system, adding that not all homes have areas that are conducive for studying.

“I hope they will reassess this and not insist on blended (learning) in areas where (face-to-face classes) could be done,” Robredo said.

The opening of classes in public elementary and high schools is set on Oct. 5.

President Duterte has rejected the conduct of face-to-face classes sans a vaccine. – Helen Flores