Group bats for broadband connectivity requirement in building code

 

MANILA, Philippines — An advocacy group on Sunday urged legislators to expedite the amendment of the National Building Code to make broadband connectivity a part of mandatory requirements in residential and commercial spaces before occupancy.

CitizenWatch Philippines, in a statement, said that the amendment should also make broadband connection equipment free of lease payments — something that was not included in the law which was passed way back in 1977.

“Having broadband connection in every workplace, commercial and residential areas should now be a standard amenity the same way that adequate utility easements are provided for electricity and water,” CitizenWatch Philippines’ co-convenor Tim Abejo said in a statement.

The 47-year-old building code does not require water and electricity providers to pay leases to developers to install water pipes or electric wiring for their services.

“For obvious reasons, the law at that time did not cover broadband connectivity. But now we have to adapt to the times and adjust to the growing demand for 24 by 7 access to wired and mobile broadband connection,” the group’s co-convenor continued.

The advocacy group voiced support for House Bill 8523 which adds the provision that communications and digital connectivity are considered a basic human right and plays a critical role in our nation’s transformation to a digitally enabled and competitive country in the digital global economy.

“We call on legislators to prioritize the amendment of the Building Code to include telecommunications and broadband network connections to be installed with the same stature as water and electricity facilities which are already integrated early in the design stage and free of lease payments,” Abejo, a lawyer, added.

In the same statement, he criticized the practice of charging telecommunications firms expensive lease payments by property developers for installing fiber optic cables, turning essential services into income-generating schemes that burden consumers with higher internet costs.

“These are substantial operating expenses that will impact the cost of internet services of consumers,” he said.

“We need to work together and be part of the solution to empower our country to keep pace with the fast innovations of the new global digital economy especially now that our economy is gaining momentum,” Abejo added.