MANILA – Malacañang is urging telecommunication providers to submit a report on their new towers as President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadline for their improved services draws closer.
In Tuesday’s virtual press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he personally does not see any improvement with the services of PLDT and Globe Telecom.
“Hinihimok ko po ang ating telcos, ano naman po isusukli ninyo matapos kayong pagbigyan ng Presidente doon sa hinihingi ninyo na mapabilis ang approval ng mga telecom towers,” Roque said.
“I would like to invite both companies to submit to us iyong mga bagong towers na naitayo na nila. And I really want them to commit kung kailan sila magkakaroon ng mas mabuting serbisyo,” he added.
Roque also told regulatory body National Telecommunications Commission to coordinate with his office on this especially now that more people rely on technology for work and education.
“Kinakailangan po natin ng kasagutan dito dahil ang NTC ang regulatory agency ng ating mga telcos, para malaman natin kung nagkaroon na nga ng improvement,” the Palace spokesperson said.
President Duterte ranted against Smart Communications and Globe Telecom during his fifth State of the Nation Address in July, threatening to take over their operations if there are no improvements by the end of the year.
“I want to call Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, better have that line cleared… If you are not ready to improve, I might just as well close all of you and we revert back to the line telephone at kukunin ko ‘yan expropriate ko sa gobyerno,” Duterte said.
Third telecommunications player DITO Telecommunity, aiming to challenge the duopoly of Globe and PLDT, has enjoyed Duterte’s support when he said there was “no corruption” in the consortium.
DITO is composed of Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp and Chelsea Logistics with China Telecom. Uy is a long-time ally of the President while Beijing has had friendly bilateral relations with the Philippines under the Duterte administration./PN
