POE BACKS NETIZENS, TELLS TELCOS TO SHAPE UP

Slow internet service, poor connection, dropped calls, exorbitant charges, disappearing load --  these were among the complaints of netizens who took to Senator Grace Poe’s social media accounts to seek action against the atrocious services of telecommunications companies in the country.

Using the hashtag #TellPOEonTelco, Poe urged netizens using her Facebook and Twitter accounts to “let your voice be heard” and speak up about the services of the country’s telecommunications providers. (https://www.facebook.com/seng racepoe/ (https://twitter.com/SenGraceP OE)

“We deserve good telco service, kaya’t i-share na ang inyong karanasan sa serbisyo ng text, call at internet ninyo,” she called on the public.

Senator Mary Grace Poe gestures in one of the Senate hearings.

The post was instantly viewed and shared by social media users, and generated comments about the inadequate service of the country’s telcos.


“It’s a pity hearing the same old complaints about speed, affordability and coverage in the age of fast technology.” Poe said.

“As a consumer, I can very much relate, and so our united call to the telecommunications companies is to give us our money’s worth and improve your services,” she said.

Despite little or no improvement in their service, telcos have been raising rates using creative marketing strategies in the guise of promotions.

Telcos have slowly removed their unlimited data plan in their mobile subscriptions and shifted to volume pricing and introduced caps on prepaid and postpaid plans. This way, they are able to charge more per customer as data consumption increases and at the same time, able to cut down on heavy users.

“Meron pa silang tinatawag na Anti Bill Shock Guarantee at Shock Proof Data Charging, pero sa huli ay shocking pa rin ang buwanang bill natin,” Poe said.

“The complaints of netizens will not fall on deaf ears.  We will gather them and raise them in the appropriate committee hearings, so they will have a voice in the reforms we want instituted in the telco industry,” she added.

Already, there are several bills pending before the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking wide-ranging reforms in the telecommunications industry to improve internet and mobile services in the country and make them at par with international standards.

Even President Rodrigo Duterte had warned that he might push for the opening of the local telecommunications industry to foreign competitors if they do not beef up on their services.

Poe said this reflected the same sentiment of a netizen who made a comment in her Facebook page.  According to the Facebook user, “There’s no real competition.  Here, it’s comparing a rotten apple with another rotten apple.  It’s a duopoly, there’s no real incentive to improve service.”-30-


-----------

POE: TELCO, UMAYOS KAYO

Mabagal na internet, mahinang signal, dropped calls, labis-labis na singil, nawawalang load—ilan lamang iyan sa mga reklamo ukol sa napakasamang serbisyo ng mga telecommunications companies na ipinahatid ng netizens kay Senador Grace Poe sa social media.

Gamit ang hashtag na #TellPOEonTelco, hinikayat ni Poe ang netizens na ipahayag sa kanyang Facebook at Twitter accounts ang kanilang saloobin tungkol sa serbisyong natatanggap mula sa telecommunications providers sa bansa. (https://www.facebook.com/seng racepoe/)  (https://twitter.com/SenGrace POE)

“We deserve good telco service, kaya’t i-share na ang inyong karanasan sa serbisyo ng text, call at internet ninyo,” anyaya ni Poe sa publiko.

Agad na shinare at kumalat ang post sa social media kung saan hindi nag-atubiling magpahayag ang netizens sa masahol na serbisyong natatanggap nila mula sa mga telco sa bansa.

“Paulit-ulit na lang ang reklamo sa bagal ng internet, mahal na presyo at mahinang signal kung kailan pa panahon na nang mabilis na teknolohiya,” ayon kay Poe.

“Nakaka-relate ako bilang isang consumer, kaya kaisa ako sa panawagan sa mga telecommunications companies na tumbasan naman nang maayos na serbisyo ang ibinabayad natin sa kanila,” dagdag ng senadora.

Bagamat halos walang pagbuti sa serbisyo, patuloy ang pagtaas ng singil ng mga telco dahil sa kabi-kabilang marketing strategy na nakakubli bilang promotion.

Kung dati ay unlimited ang internet, ngayon ay naglagay na ng volume pricing at cap sa mga prepaid at postpaid plans. Sa ganitong paraan ay mas malaki ang nasisingil sa bawat consumer dahil habang tumataas ang konsumo ay nababawasan din ang mga madalas gumamit ng internet.

“Meron pa silang tinatawag na Anti Bill Shock Guarantee at Shock Proof Data Charging, pero sa huli ay shocking pa rin ang buwanang bill natin,” sabi ni Poe.

“Narinig natin ang hinaing ng ating netizens. Lahat ng mga reklamong ito ay kabilang sa mga tatalakayin natin sa gagawing mga pagdinig. Kasama ang boses nila sa mga magtatalaga ng reporma sa industriya ng telco,” dagdag ng senador.

Ilang panukalang batas na ang nakahain sa Senado at Kamara para sa malawakang reporma sa telecommunications industry, kabilang dito ang pagpapalakas ng internet at mobile services nang makasabay ito sa pandaigdigang pamantayan.

Maging si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay nagsabing maaari niyang buksan sa mga kumpanyang dayuhan ang industriya kung hindi pagagandahin ng mga lokal na telco ang kanilang serbisyo.

Sabi ni Poe, ganito rin ang mensahe ng isang netizen sa kanyang Facebook page, "Walang totoong kompetisyon. Dito sa atin, isang bulok na mansanas katapat ng isa pang bulok din na mansanas. Ang mayroon ay duopolya, at walang tapat na insentibo para pagbutihin ang serbisyo." -30-