Tuesday, July 12, 2011
A GROUP in Davao City is urging Dabawenyos to turn off their cellphones during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Benigno Aquino III on July 25 to show dissent against a looming monopoly in the telecommunications industry.
The Samahan Laban sa Monopolyo (Slam) is calling on the cooperation of Dabawenyos between 12 noon and 1 p.m. of July 25 dubbed "Slam Hour."
Slam organized a People's Forum Tuesday at the Mandaya Hotel to discuss the imminent control of 77 percent telecom frequencies in the country due to PLDT's acquisition of the majority of telecommunication franchise with its merger with Digitel-Sun Cellular.
Participants of the forum agreed to join the Slam Hour and will hold an assembly on July 25, together with students and teachers from Ateneo de Davao University and University of Mindanao to coincide with the nationwide Slam Hour.
"Frequency is an open market and dominating 77 percent of the market share, hindi tama yun, dapat there should be a 50 percent available free market and allow free interconnection," said Epee Casuncad of Slam.
He added that the government should do its job in protecting the free market because people would have no choice if monopoly prevails.
"Bandwidth is a new form of technology, at kung iisang kumpanya mag-dodominate nito parang ginagaya nila ginawa ng AT&T in the States, and PLDT is trying to accomplish that. They should level the playing field," said Jess Sandow, Slam convenor.
Casuncad explained during the forum to the participants the impact of the monopoly in the telecommunication industry.
He said PLDT's dominance can become the sole service provider and that without competition, consumers will not have a choice to get the best price and quality service for their money.
"Nakalaya na tayo noong panahon ng diktadurya and it's coming back again in another form. Kung walang mapoprotect ng consumers, paano natin malalabanan to? And it's going to hit our people. We should be vigilant." Casungcad said.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is conducting hearings about the merger application of PLDT and Digitel and that the decision is to be released soon.
"Let's just hope that the new DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communication) can do something about this, because the government should regulate this and NTC should know better," Casuncad added.
Source URL: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2011/07/12/consumer-group-calls-protest-vs-telco-monopoly-166485
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