Private sector urges increased gov’t investment in PH digitalization
THE Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) on Wednesday sought an increase in government spending towards developing the country’s internet infrastructure.
In a statement, PSAC called for an increase in the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) infrastructure budget to PHP240 billion -- currently at PHP7.6 billion for six years, from 2018 to 2024.
“This is dwarfed by private sector spending. Globe [Telecom Inc.] alone has invested PHP265 billion in capital expenditure and PHP236 billion in operational expenses in the past three years to enhance its network capabilities to improve the country’s digital infrastructure,” it said.
The increase in infrastructure budget, it said, would help realize the government’s connectivity goals of having cheaper internet services and increasing the internet penetration rate in the country to 65 percent from the current 33 percent.
It also sought a commercial partnership between the government and the private sector to build 35,000 new cell sites and to ensure the “full and consistent implementation” of Executive Order No. 32 which aims to streamline and expedite the permitting process for telecommunications (telecom) infrastructure.
The group requested an annual allocation of PHP60 billion for the DICT to lease towers, build lastmile facilities, and optimize existing telecommunications infrastructure.
It suggested these actions go handin-hand with collaboration between the government and the private sector.
“These are essential steps toward achieving comprehensive national coverage by 2028,” it said.
If approved, it said these actions will help transform the Philippines into a leading digital economy in Southeast Asia.
“We advocate for a Presidential directive to ensure that all relevant agencies are fully aligned in executing all training and job promotion activities to achieve this ambitious job creation target,” it said.
These were discussed during a meeting between PSAC members and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Malacanang on April 19.