A senator stressed the need to institute reforms that are crucial to improving the national Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, cited the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2019 Global Competitiveness Report, revealing that concerns on ICT adoption and macroeconomic stability are the major factors that dragged down the Philippines’ global ranking by eight notches to 64th out of 141 economies.

Gatchalian said among the measures that would foster an inclusive, efficient, and competitive business environment in the Philippine include the amendments to the 80-year-old Public Service Act.

“This would clarify the definition of public utilities as only those public services which are natural monopolies by nature,” he said.

He also pushed for the bill allowing the entry of additional players in the data infrastructure without requiring a congressional franchise by shifting to an Open Access Model in data transmission instead of a single, vertically integrated network.

“Rest assured we will be refiling these bills this Congress and would work towards their passage. Our goal is to favor consumers by offering them better options on the market,” he said.

“After all, empowered consumers are the backbone of a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive national economy,” he added. (PNA)