'Urgent reforms needed to speed up internet rollout'

A consumer advocacy group has urged policymakers to prioritize legislation that addresses regulatory blocks hindering the country's digital infrastructure rollout.

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In a statement, CitizenWatch Philippines said there is a pressing need to modernize the National Building Code, streamline right-of-way (ROW) acquisition, and clarify rules around homeowners' association (HOA) restrictions on telco access.

"We support the national commitment to digital transformation," said Orlando Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch. "To move forward, we need enabling policies that respond to the realities of the digital age. Connectivity should be treated as a basic utility, not a privilege."

He noted that several legislative proposals that sought to address these issues were filed in the last Congress such as House Bill 900 on telecommunications readiness of buildings, House Bill 4472 on ICT infrastructure requirements for housing developments and House Bill 6571 on ROW guidelines, but these have yet to be refiled in the current 20th Congress.

"These are critical measures that warrant prioritization," Oxales said. "We encourage lawmakers to refile, refine and pass these bills so we can create a legal environment more responsive to connectivity needs."

The group cited persistent barriers telcos face: outdated building codes, restrictive HOA practices and lengthy ROW permitting at the local level.