Honasan accepts offer to lead DICT
Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” B. Honasan II, a member of the Senate majority bloc, yesterday accepted the offer of President Duterte to lead the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Honasan, chairperson of the Senate National Defense and Security Committee, said he accepted the Cabinet post “for a better Philippines, a better government, for the Filipino people, and for a better future for our most precious children.”
Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III said the Senate would miss Honasan, adding that Honasan would be an asset to the Executive department.
Hon a san’ s colleagues congratulated him on his appointment.
Sen. Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero wished him well and said he would miss his “kababayan” in the Senate. Honasan and Escudero are from Sorsogon.
Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Economic Affairs and Energy Committees, said Honasan would be able to improve the quality of telecoms services in the country.
Gatchalian said that for many years, Filipinos have suffered from the slowest Internet speed in the Asia-Pacific region.
“According to the 2017 report of Akamai, an Internet speed measuring platform, the Philippines has the slowest Internet speed across the Asia-Pacific at 5.5 mpbs. At hindi lang sobrang mabagal ang Internet speed sa atin, sobrang mahal pa!’’ Gatchalian said.
“It’s time to crack the whip on the abuses by the telecom duopoly,” Gatchalian said, apparently referring to the two telecommunications giants Smart and Globe.
“Sen. Honasan is known as a passionate public servant and a disciplinarian. I am very confident that with his long experience in government, he will be able to tear down the regulatory capture in DICT and improve the quality and service of the telecom operators in our country,’’ he added.
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, chairperson of the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee, said he would definitely miss Honasan for many reasons, including the committee hearings that both provided each other the quorum needed to conduct business.