Joel Dabao l October 1, 2024 l Manila Bulletin
Transformational growth through digitalization promises to bring many benefits to our country. From simply extending government services to remote towns via e-government services, to the economic advantages of remote jobs and digital nomads bringing urban salaries to rural areas while alleviating congestion in metropolitan areas, the potential is significant. Additionally, the expansion of learning opportunities through the plethora of free courses available online adds to this promise.
However, in our excitement, we often overlook the divides that exist in our country, some of which may limit this transformational growth to a privileged few. We are undeniably a divided nation—divided by geography, with over 7,000 islands; divided by income; and, perhaps least discussed, divided by access to connectivity.
Many of us in urban areas take for granted the widespread availability of internet access (though the quality of that access is a separate issue). In major cities, one can find anywhere from two to 10 options for broadband internet within just a kilometer. However, as one moves further away from the city, these options drastically diminish. Some barangays are fortunate to have even one service provider, while many have none at all. During the height of the pandemic, we heard stories of students climbing hills or teachers perching in tree branches to access the internet for distance learning. While improvements have been made since 2020, we still have a long way to go.
Studies indicate that fewer than 30% of Filipino households have fixed-line internet, and less than five percent of these households are low-income. While various factors contribute to this issue, outdated policies play a big role. The law governing telecommunications has been in place since the 1990s and does not even mention the word “internet.” Consequently, many regulations regarding infrastructure development stem from that era. We are among the last economies in the world that require a legislative franchise for any entity to offer Internet services. While the ecosystem is complex and challenging to navigate, it is clear that a simplified entry process could encourage more investment in the sector.
Currently, there are reforms pending in the Senate, including the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which aims to facilitate the entry of new players, ease restrictions on existing providers, and, just as importantly, mandate performance and cybersecurity standards for ISPs that are responsive to today’s environment. These standards are currently absent from existing policies. If we aspire to bring our entire country into a digital future, ensuring democratic access to opportunities, we must guarantee that everyone—regardless of location—can connect to the internet and benefit from transformative fintech solutions, AI, and other life-changing technologies. Our country is already divided enough; let us strive to ensure that the digital divide is not a part of that division any longer.
*** Mr. Joel Dabao is the President of Kabankalan Community Antenna Television (K-CAT Inc.) and the subcom Vice Chair of the FINEX Night of the FINEX Week Committee.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FINEX. Photo from Pinterest.