PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. hopes to see more public-private partnership (PPP) to help boost interconnectivity in the Philippines.
Marcos made the statement following his meeting with executives from telecommunications companies Converge ICT and South Korean telco giant KT Corp. to discuss internet services in the country.
In his post, the President shared a photo of him meeting Converge Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis Anthony Uy and Korean executives CEO Ku Hyeon-mo and President Yun Kyoung-lim of KT Corp. in Malacañang on Friday evening.
“We met with the CEO of Converge and KT Corp. officials to fix our country’s internet services,” Marcos said.
“Through a PPP like this, we can use their experience to help in our programs,” he added.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) likewise shared on Facebook several photos of Marcos’ meeting with the information and communications technology leaders.
The OPS said KT is also holding talks with other governments regarding its investment plans.
“KT Corp., established in 1981, is one of the largest telecommunications and digital platform service providers in Korea. It is coordinating with governments of other nations to construct information and communications technology facilities,” the OPS said.
Converge partnered with KT in 2018 to join the Philippine government’s bid for a new telecommunications player.
In 2019, the government announced that DITO Telecommunity is the country’s third telecommunications provider, joining Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc.
Smart and KT, through a memorandum of understanding signed in 2021, teamed up to explore and develop consumer 5G (fifth-generation) technology use in the Philippines.
Marcos’ meeting with Converge and KT officials came after he signed on Monday Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the “SIM Card Registration Act” to fight spam messages and text scams.
“You can expect that your personal information will remain safe and private when you start registering your SIM cards,” he said.
RA 11934 requires public telecommunications entities (PTEs) or direct sellers to demand end users of SIM cards to present a valid identification document to validate their identities.
It also mandates PTEs to submit a verified list of their authorized dealers and agents nationwide to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), to be updated every quarter.
Under RA 11934, all PTEs must maintain a SIM Card Registry of their subscribers containing the information required under the new law.
The NTC is already working on the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11934.
By Catherine S. Valente October 16, 2022
