Internet

Sen. Bam: Don’t forget public schools in free WIFI rollout

Don’t forget our public schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Senator Bam Aquino issued this call as the government prepares the rollout of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places, which he pushed in the Senate as principal sponsor and co-author, saying Filipino students will benefit from free internet as a vital tool to further enrich their knowledge.

“Internet is an important tool in learning. Students are empowered by the internet in learning lessons, completing assignments, and research,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of the measure in the Senate in his capacity as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“Magagamit din ito ng ating mga guro para mapabuti ang kanilang mga sistema ng pagtuturo,” added Sen. Bam.

Republic Act 10929 provides free internet access in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

 “This will expand internet access across public spaces in the Philippines, including public schools to aid in teaching methods and enhance learning,” the senator said.

In addition, the law contains provisions for the faster processing of permits for internet infrastructure, which is designed to fast-track the improvement in the country’s internet backbone.

As part of its mandate under the law, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is tasked to craft a plan and a timeline for the rollout of the program.

In its latest report, the DICT said it’s planning to establish 250,000 Wi-Fi access points in public places throughout the country until 2022.

During this stint as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam spearheaded an investigation into the slow and expensive internet in the country.

The probe helped determine needed legislations to address the internet problem in the country and led to the release of a Department of Justice opinion on telco advertising.

The hearing also compelled the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to come out with guidelines on minimum internet speeds and conducted speed testing in various areas of the Philippines to check compliance of telcos.

As the current chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam is principal sponsor of the free internet reform. He also filed Senate Bill No. 171 or the Open Access in Data Transmission Act of 2016, which has yet to be passed into law to enable more players into and promote competition in the internet industry.

Principal sponsors have the responsibility of prioritizing bills in their respective committees, conducting hearings on bills assigned to their committee, defending the measures during the period of interpellation, consolidating proposals and amendments to their reforms, and leading the bicameral conference before a bill is passed into law.

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Sen. Bam on the President’s invitation to China Telco players

Natutuwa tayo sa pagkilala ng Pangulo na kailangan nating pagandahin ang ating sektor ng telekomunikasyon sa pamamagitan ng kumpetisyon, subalit hindi tayo dapat malimita sa isang bansa lamang.

 Kung ang maliit na bansa gaya ng Singapore ay mayroong anim na players sa telco sector, dapat maging ganito rin kasigla ang kumpetisyon sa ating bansa.

Habang isinusulong natin noon ang Philippine Competition Act, nakatagpo tayo ng interes mula sa mga kumpanyang galing Japan at Korea na gustong pumasok sa ating industriya ng telco.

 Kahit ang maliliit nating local cable operators ay nais magsamasama upang makipagkumpitensya sa malalaking Telcos.

 Gawin nating madali para sa mga kumpanyang ito na makapasok sa merkado at tanggalin na ang red tape upang mapaganda ang serbisyo ng internet at bumaba ang presyo nito para sa mga Pilipino.

BIDA KA!: Libreng internet sa pampublikong lugar

Mga bida, bukod sa Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act at Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, tumayo rin tayo bilang sponsor ng Senate Bill No. 1277 o ang “Free Internet Access in Public Places Act” bago natapos ang sesyon ng Senado kamakailan.

Ang Senate Bill No. 1277 pinagsama-samang bersiyon ng iba’t ibang panukala, kabilang na ang ating Senate Bill No. 1050, na layong lagyan ng koneksiyon ng internet ang lahat ng pampublikong paaralan upang makatulong sa pag-aaral ng mga estudyante.

Layunin po ng panukalang ito na lagyan ng libreng koneksiyon sa internet ang lahat ng national at local government ­offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public ­hospitals at public libraries.

Bilang chairman ng Committee on Science and Techno­logy, pinangunahan po natin ang pagdinig ng mga nasabing panukala at pagbalangkas sa bersiyon nito na isinumite kamakailan sa plenaryo.

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Sa mga paunang pagdinig, nabatid na nasa 52.6 percent lang ng mga Pilipino ang may access sa internet service. Napakalayo nito kumpara sa Singapore, na may 81.3 percent at sa Malaysia na may 68 percent.

Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang ganitong sitwasyon dahil napakahalaga ng internet sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.

Maraming umaasa sa internet sa pag-aaral, sa trabaho at sa pakikipag-usap sa mga mahal sa buhay, maging dito man sa Pilipinas o sa ibang bansa.

Mahalaga ang internet sa mga anak para makausap ang kanilang mga ama na nasa ibang bansa para humingi ng payo.

Importante ang internet sa mga call center agent dahil ito ang nag-uugnay sa kanila at kanilang mga kausap sa ibang bansa.

 

Para sa freelancers, ito’y kailangan para makausap ng maayos ang kliyente at mapadala ang hinihinging trabaho.

Para sa negosyanteng Pinoy, ito’y nagagamit sa pagbe­benta ng gamit o paghahanap ng mga bagong supplier.

Para sa maraming walang trabaho, malaking tulong ang ­internet upang sila’y makakita ng trabaho online.

Para sa mga guro at para sa mag-aaral, ang internet ang pinanggagalingan ng research, ng learning materials, at mga bagong modules.

Kaya mahalagang maisabatas ang libreng internet sa mga pampublikong lugar upang mabigyan ang mas maraming ­Pilipino ng access sa internet. Sa ilalim ng panukalang ito, aatasan ang Department of Information and Communications Techno­logy (DICT) na pangasiwaan at palawigin ang plano para sa nasabing programa.

Bibigyan din ng panu­kala ng kapangyarihan ang DICT para mapabilis ang proseso para sa aplikasyon ng permits at certificates para sa pagtatayo ng kailangang imprastruktura at kagami­tan, sa tulong ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan at local government units.

Sa paglalagay ng mabilis at de-kalidad na inter­net sa mga pampublikong lugar, mabubuksan ang mas maraming posibilidad para sa pagpapaganda ng ating buhay at pagpapalakas ng relasyon ng pamilya at ­komunidad.

Sa suportang nakuha ng panukala mula sa mga kapwa ko senador, tiwala akong maisasabatas ang panukalang ito sa lalong madaling panahon.

Bam pushes for greater internet access and free internet in public places

A measure providing free internet connectivity in public places and improving internet access across the Philippines is now closer to becoming a law, according to its main proponent, Sen. Bam Aquino.

 Sen. Bam said Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act passed the committee level and is slated for plenary deliberations.

 According to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committees on Education and Science and Technology, free internet access will be provided in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

 “It is imperative that we institutionalize this very important platform – to improve access to quality Internet in the Philippines especially when only 52.6% of Filipinos have Internet access,” said Sen. Bam.

 Under the measure, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be mandated to craft a plan and a timeline for the rollout of this program.

 “The DICT will also take the lead in coordinating with local government units to ensure the on-ground implementation of the program,” said Sen. Bam in his sponsorship speech.

 The measure will also authorize the DICT to streamline the process for the application of permits and certificates for the construction of infrastructure and installation of equipment necessary, in coordination with national government agencies and local government units.

 “Now is the time to invest completely in developing internet quality and bringing this powerful tool to every port, every station, every park, every museum, and every classroom in the Philippines,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 1050 seeking to connect all public educational institutions to the internet to help students enhance their personal and academic development.

 In a previous hearing, it was discovered that only 26 percent of public schools in the country have Internet access, which is detrimental to the progress of education.

Bam hopes nat’l broadband plan will boost PH internet infra

Sen. Bam Aquino hopes that the government’s national broadband plan will help leapfrog the country’s current internet infrastructure.
 
Sen. Bam said newly-created Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will present its national broadband plans to the Committee on Science and Technology, which he chairs, on Dec. 6.
 
“I’m hopeful that it will be a good proposal and that we can leapfrog the current infrastructure,” Sen. Bam said in a media interview.
 
Sen. Bam expects the DICT to present different options on the national broadband plan: use the current infrastructure, put up its own system or find other methodologies to connect.
 
“We have to know how much it will cost and what are the benefits of each option. It all boils down to cost-benefit analysis,” Sen. Bam said. “I will be cautious and wait for them to present properly.”
 
“We have to work on solutions that will give the public cheaper, better quality internet for the long term,” he added.
 
According to Sen. Bam, other stakeholders will also have a chance to scrutinize and propose changes that will fine-tune the DICT’s plan.
 
“Hopefully, we will be able to come to a consensus on what we need to do to be able to improve our internet infrastructure,” Sen. Bam said.
 
Sen. Bam also invited the National Telecommunications Commission to the hearing to inquire about the status of new players that will help improve the  competitive landscape.
 
In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam spearheaded several hearings on the slow and expensive Internet service in the country.
 
As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology in the 17th Congress, he has filed several bills that will improve internet quality in the Philippines.

BIDA KA!: Libreng Internet

Mga bida, marami tayong­ natuklasan sa pagdinig ng ­Committee on Science and ­Technology at ­Committee on Education noong naka­raang linggo.

Sa mga nasabing hearing, tina­lakay natin ang ilang panukalang batas ukol sa paglalagay ng libreng wi-fi sa mga pampublikong lugar at sa ating pampublikong paaralan,­ kasama na ang state colleges at ­universities.

Nagsumite ako ng panukala­ na maglagay ng libreng Internet c­onnection, kasama na ang wi-fi, sa l­ahat ng pampublikong paaralan sa paniniwalang kaila­ngan ito ng mga estudyante sa kanilang pag-aaral at kailangan din ng mga guro para updated at epektibo ang kanilang materya­les­ sa pagturo.

Subalit nasorpresa at nabahala ako nang malaman mula sa mga opisyal ng Department of Education (DepEd) na 26 porsiyento lang ng mga pampublikong paaralan sa buong bansa ang may Internet connection.

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Paliwanag ng DepEd, mayroong sapat na pondo ang ahensiya para sa nasabing proyekto subalit ang problema, walang sapat na imprastruktura upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga paaralan.

Ayon sa DepEd, may mga lugar na mahina ang signal ng telcos kaya mabagal din ang Internet connection, bagay na iniiwasan ng ahensiya upang hindi masayang ang ibinabayad nito.

Marami ring lugar sa bansa ang walang Internet connection dahil kulang ang imprastruktura ng telcos, lalo na sa mga liblib na paaralan.

Sa parte naman ng bagong tatag na Department of ­Information and Communications Technology (DICT), plano nilang maglagay ng libreng wi-fi sa mahigit 12,000 lugar sa buong bansa bago mag-Nobyembre 2017.

Ang problema, hindi pa sila nangangalahati dahil din sa kakulangan ng imprastruktura ng telcos.

Nang tanungin ang telcos, isinisi nila ang kakulangan sa imprastruktura sa bagal at higpit ng pagkuha ng permit sa ­local government units (LGUs) kung saan nila ilalagay ang kailangang kagamitan para mapabilis ang serbisyo.

Reklamo ng telcos, nakakasa na ang kanilang planong maglagay ng dagdag na cell sites at iba pang imprastruktura na magpapaganda ng serbisyo ng Internet.

Ngunit hindi umano sila makausad dahil sa bagal ng ­proseso ng pagkuha ng permit. Madalas, hindi bababa sa 25 permit ang kailangan para lang makapaglagay ng cell site.

Binanggit pa ng isang telco na nakalinya na ang paglalagay ng dagdag na 1,000 cell sites sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa­ ngunit sa bagal ng proseso, nasa 500 pa lang ang kanilang naipupuwesto.

Isa pang problema ang mahal at paiba-ibang halaga ng bayad na sinisingil ng LGU sa bawat cell site na kanilang ­inilalagay.

***

Upang masolusyunan ang problema, plano nating isama­ sa pagbalangkas ng batas ang pagpapabilis ng proseso sa ­pagkuha ng permit mula sa LGUs.

Sa paraang ito, mas madali na ang paglalagay ng cell sites at iba pang equipment ng telcos para mapaganda ang Internet connection sa bansa.

Nabanggit din ng DICT na plano ng admi­nistrasyong Duterte na maglabas ng Executive Order na mag-aatas sa LGUs na madaliin ang pagpoproseso ng permits ng telcos.

Inatasan na rin natin ang DepEd, mga telco at iba pang kaukulang ahensiya na magbalangkas ng plano para maisama ang public schools at state colleges at universities sa paglalatag ng libreng wi-fi project ng pamahalaan sa susunod na dalawang taon.

***

Mga bida, ­isinusulong ko na mabigyan ng ma­gandang Internet connection ang ating mga pampublikong paaralan dahil kumbinsido ako na makatutulong ito sa lalo pang paglago ng kaala­man ng mga batang ­Pilipino.

Malaking bagay ang Internet sa kanilang research dahil makaka­kuha sila rito ng mga materyales na puno ng kaalaman at mga ­video na makatutulong sa kanilang pag-aaral.

Mapupunuan nito ang kakulangan sa libro at iba pang materyales na kailangan sa pagpapalago ng kanilang kaalaman.

Kapag may sapat na kaalaman ang ating mga estudyante sa public schools, hindi sila magpapahuli at kaya nilang makipagsabayan sa mga mag-aaral ng pribadong paaralan.

Ito rin ang magbibi­gay sa ating mga estu­dyante ng sapat na kakayahan upang makipag­tagisan para sa trabaho na magbibigay sa kanila ng magandang kinabukasan.

***

Mga Bida, maki­pagkuwentuhan kay Sen. Bam sa fb.com/BenignoBamAquino o sa e-mail bidakacolumn@gmail.com!

Senate Bill No. 646: Crowdsourcing Act

The Philippines is one of the most active nations on Facebook with 30 million Filipinos registered to the popular social media website. On the Internet, Filipinos are able to share personal stories, talents, products, appeals for donations, and grievances. And in the May 2016 elections, ideas on politics, governance and legislation flooded our social media feeds.

The Internet has proven time and again, through elections, natural disasters, public scandals, and the like, that it has the power to unite public efforts. The Internet has a power that we harness during times of need and that we ought to maximize for the betterment of our country.

This bill seeks the creation of an online platform for ordinary citizens to create petitions for both Houses of Congress to review, amend, repeal or create a law. This platform shall be launched and maintained by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office and it shall serve as a direct communication channel between the legislative branch of government and the general public. Petitions launched on the website should need to have been electronically signed by at least 300,000 before the proposed measure will be forwarder to the relevant committees in both Congress and the Senate.

In our nation, we strive to achieve full participation in the democratic process. With the advent of widespread Internet access, it has never been easier to improve and democratize our legislative process than it is now, utilizing a fast, efficient, and transparent technology to hear the voice of ordinary citizens.

In view of the foregoing, the passing of this bill is earnestly sought.


PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 646

Senate Bill No. 676: Safer Internet Day (SID) Act

The Internet has been integrated into the daily lives of billions around the world, with the Philippines ranked 16thout of 196 nations in 2014 with over 39 million local Internet users1.

Thanks to the World Wide Web, families here and abroad stay connected, news is readily available, our disaster preparedness has improved, and the business landscape is forever changed.

This bill calls for the celebration of National Safer Internet Day to acknowledge both the challenges and opportunities brought forth by this technology that has been integrated in the lives of families, communities and the country.

Through the celebration of National Safer Internet Day, the public would be made aware of the importance of creating a safe, secure and favorable online environment.

The Internet exposes the public to a wealth of information and varying perceptions. The lack of safeguards and controls on the web has allowed cyber abuses never before thought of.

What’s more, the Internet is con.stantly growing and changing. We are only beginning to understand its implications and tap into its capabilities.

National Safer Internet Day should be an annual reminder of our responsibilities as patrons of the Internet.

Beyond this, it is also a venue to discuss the constantly changing landscape of the World Wide Web and discover how best to maximize the ever-expanding online realm.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 676

Senate Bill No. 701: Penalties or Fines Against Erring Public Telecommunications

For years, Filipinos have been suffering from slow and expensive Internet as they struggle to communicate with loved ones living abroad, forge deals with potential business partners and clients around the world, or simply get work done and sent quickly and efficiently.

Our collective frustrations over our country’s Internet quality has been justified by studies on Internet speed and cost per country, putting the Philippines as slowest and most expensive in the region.

Being the fastest growing economy in the ASEAN, this is clearly unacceptable and measures to improve our Internet quality while driving down its cost must be prioritized.

One of the many steps we must take is to update current policies to ensure that Internet providers are held accountable for their activities.

Thus, this measure seeks to empower the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) by increasing the penalties and fines for violations against the authority of the NTC and its released certificates, orders, decisions, resolutions, or regulations. With heavier penalties, NTC can expect greater compliance from Internet providers to standards and regulations that have been set to advance Internet quality in the Philippines.

Now, with the promise and potential of innovations coming from all corners of the world, we must band together to create a framework for the constant improvement of our internet services for the benefit of all Filipinos, especially those engaged in commerce.

When it comes to public services, we must do more than just keep up with the development of our neighbors, but exceed them. Let us band together to significantly improve our Internet services in the Philippines

In view of foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 701

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Negosyong Internet Shop

Mga Kanegosyo, itutuloy po natin ngayong linggo ang pagsagot sa mga katanungan na pumapasok sa ating e-mail at Facebook accounts.

Tayo po’y natutuwa sa dami ng mga pumapasok na katanungan sa ating e-mail na nagpapahayag ng interes na magtayo ng negosyo.

Ito po ang ating matagal nating isinusulong, bago pa man tayo maging senador. Nais nating mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang lahat na magkaroon ng sariling negosyo para sa kanilang ikabubuhay.

Naririto ang isa pang tanong na pumasok sa aming e-mail:

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TANONG: Kanegosyong Bam, good morning po.  Nais ko po sanang magtanong tungkol sa mga pautang ninyo para sa negosyo. Ako po ay dating OFW sa Doha, Qatar at umuwi ako ng Pilipinas last 2009.  

Nagtayo ako ng piggery ngunit hindi nag-success dahil sa kalamidad o bagyo na humagupit sa probinsiya namin.

Sa ngayon po gusto ko sanang magsimula ng maliit na computer shop para naman makatulong ako sa pag-aaral ng mga anak ko.  Sana po ay matulungan ninyo ako.

Maraming Salamat po. Gumagalang, Arnel

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SAGOT: Arnel, bilang tugon sa iyong katanungan ukol sa pagtatayo ng isang Internet shop, ilang beses ko nang nabanggit dito na sa pagtatayo ng negosyo, ang unang dapat tingnan ay ang lokasyon kung saan ito ilalagay.

Kung Internet shop ang balak mong itayo, maganda itong ilagay sa mataong lugar na mayroong malaking pangangailangan para rito, lalo na kung malapit ito sa paaralan.

Ngunit sa aking pagkakaalam, may mga regulasyong sinusunod ang isang Internet shop kung ito’y ilalagay mo malapit sa isang paaralan, lalo na pagdating sa oras ng pagpapapasok ng estudyante.

Pagdating naman sa puhunan, may ilan tayong tanggapan o grupo na maaaring lapitan para mautangan ng gagamiting kapital sa pagsisimula ng Internet shop.

Bilang isang OFW, maaari kang lumapit sa Land Bank dahil mayroon silang tinatawag na OFW Reintegration Program (OFW-RP).

Ito’y isang loan program para sa OFWs upang sila’y mabigyan ng alternatibong pagkakakitaan upang hindi na muling mangibang-bansa.

Sa programang ito, maaari kang mangutang ng minimum na P300,000 hanggang P2 milyon.

Para sa dagdag na impormasyon, maaari mo silang tawagan sa 405-7146 at 551-2200 local 2655.

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May isa pang tanggapan na nagbibigay ng iba’t ibang klase ng pautang at ito ay ang Small Business Corporation (SBC).

Nagbibigay ang SBC ng pautang sa micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) sa pamamagitan ng Credit Delivery Strategy.

Sa ganitong paraan, iniaakma ng SBC ang pautang batay sa potensiyal ng isang negosyo na lumago, mula sa magiging micro patungong small hanggang medium.

Matatagpuan ang kanilang tanggapan sa 17th at 18th Floors, 139 Corporate Center, 139 Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City. Puwede rin silang tawagan sa 751-1888 para sa detalye.

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Ang isa pang korporasyon na nagbibigay ng pautang sa SMEs ay ang

Negosyong Pinoy Finance Corporation (NPFC).

Nagsimula ang kanilang operasyon sa Rizal ngunit lumaki na ang kanilang sakop at tumutulong na sa MSMEs sa Metro Manila, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4A at Region 7.

Ang tanggapan ng Negosyong Pinoy ay nasa 6th Floor Semicon Bldg. Marcos Highway, Brgy. Dela Paz, Pasig City. Maaari rin silang tawagan sa 358-5779. 

Sana’y magtagumpay ang iyong Internet shop!

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