National Broadband Plan

Sen. Bam to DICT: Present approved nat’l broadband plan to stakeholders

With the approval of the national broadband plan, Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to present it stakeholders, experts and other concerned groups for suggestion and scrutiny.

“Masaya tayo’t inaprubahan na ng pamahalaan ang national broadband plan na makatutulong upang mapaganda ang kalidad at mapalawak ang sakop ng internet sa bansa,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“Now that the plan is approved, we call on DICT to present it to stakeholders, experts and other concerned organizations for scrutiny and suggestion to ensure that it will be an effective one,” he added.

 According to Sen. Bam, the committee will conduct a hearing where the DICT can provide details of the plan, which was approved by President Duterte during Monday’s 13th Cabinet meeting.

 During last year’s committee hearing, Sen. Bam said the DICT presented three options to implement the P75-billion plan, including its preferred way of investing in Internet infrastructure, like fiber optic cables, especially in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.

Under this option, the government will also use the existing infrastructure of current players while encouraging new players to develop new Internet infrastructure.

 The DICT is expected to come out with a final national broadband plan by the 2nd quarter of 2017. The project is expected to be finished in about 2 to 3 years.

Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which is being currently tackled in the plenary.

If enacted into law, free internet access will be provided in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

 Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1050 is included in Senate Bill No. 1277. It seeks to connect all public educational institutions to the internet to help students enhance their personal and academic development.

Bam calls on local and int’l players to work with the DICT for better Internet

Sen. Bam calls on Internet companies here and abroad to work with the DICT to improve the quality of internet services in the Philippines.

“The success of our National Broadband Plan to improve Internet services lies in strong partnerships between government and the private sector,” said Sen. Bam after leading the Committee on Science and Technology’s hearing that looked into the initial details of the government’s national broadband plan Tuesday.

During the hearing, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) revealed initial details of its P75-billion national broadband plan, which is implementable in about 2 to 3 years.

The DICT stated that their preferred option is to invest in Internet infrastructure, like fiber optic cables, especially in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.

Under this option, the government will also use the existing infrastructure of current players while encouraging new entrants to develop new Internet infrastructure.

According to Sen. Bam, the DICT will come out with a final national broadband plan by the 2nd quarter of 2017.

 “Kapag maayos ang pagkagawa ng plano at siguraduhin na maayos ang pag-implement nito, magkakaroon tayo ng sapat na imprastraktura para tumaas ang kalidad ng internet at bumaba pa ang presyo nito,” said Sen. Bam.

 On top of the national broadband plan, Sen. Bam said the recently passed Philippine Competition Act will help create a climate that will attract foreign players to partner with Filipino companies, while the Free Internet Access in Public Spaces bill includes a provision to cut red tape for permits.

  “The policies we’re working on will also create a more competitive environment and promote ease of doing business to make it easier for new players to come,” added Sen. Bam.

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