Now six months into the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the importance of digital technologies in our daily lives has never been so evident.
However, the potential of digital technologies is limited by our digital infrastructure, which, despite efforts from major Filipino telecom players, remains plagued by red tape, bureaucratic mismanagement, and inefficient and excessive permit processes.
Under the guise of improving the state of our digital infrastructure, the government has approved the entry of the so-called “third telco player,” China Telecom-backed DITO Telecommunity. It has even allowed it to set up transmission towers within Philippine military camps.
According to former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of the Supreme Court, who spoke in the recent Philippine Bar Association event, said that unlike PLDT and Globe, we must be careful of DITO since it is backed by a state-owned company of the People’s Republic of China, which is also encroaching on our territory and maritime zones. “China has a law that any Chinese citizen or corporation must cooperate with the state intelligence service of China,” Carpio added.
Democracy Watch calls on all Filipinos to be aware of the risks presented by a telecommunications company backed by a Chinese state-owned corporation. The decision to allow such a company to set up cell towers in military camps should also be reconsidered.
During the same event, Atty. Marlon Tonson of the lawyer advocacy group Tagapagtanggol ng Watawat, emphasized that the government is required by the constitution to provide a regulatory system that can facilitate expansion of digital infrastructure that help Filipino capability.
To ensure the expansion of digital infrastructure and Filipino capabilities, it must endeavor to uphold the rule-of-law. Instead of weaponizing the law to threaten existing telcos one day, then to benefit a preferred foreign-backed telco on another, the government should instead prioritize removing the bureaucratic barriers that have slowed down the expansion of digital infrastructures needed to improve digital infrastructure and services.
With one of the longest lockdowns in the world, Filipinos need reliable digital infrastructure. They also need their government to act with the public’s interest in mind.