Ph Telecoms Summit Day 1 – DICT to Cut Red Tape to Expedite Improvements in Ph Telecoms

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The very first Philippine Telecoms Summit concluded the first of two days, March 9, 2017 at the PICC Forum.

The whole day event was attended by top telecoms stakeholders, coming from the consumers’ side, the providers’, and the regulator’s. Headed by the Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima, the panel was gathered to put into light issues that hinder the positive development in the country’s telecoms services in the aspects of cost, speed, and coverage, and to find solutions for each.

Seven days – that should be the number of days to process licenses and permits for putting up infostructure and infrastructure necessary for telecommunications. Two more days may be given for the local chief executive to decide whether to approve or deny a permit, but if after that no decision has been made, the permit should be deemed approved. Secretary Salalima is confident that if this recommendation of his is followed, the Philippines will be looking at improvements on the telecoms services just after six months.

“Solutions with no deadlines are no solutions at all,” Salalima emphasized during his speech and reiterated the same over the discussions that followed. Thus, he set a deadline as mentioned.

The Summit was lined up with presentations from various key personalities and groups, and highlighted by two “Tapatan” sessions, the first of which focused on issues concerning the consumers, providers and the regulators, while the second delved into issues regarding infostructure and infrastructure.

The second day of the PH Telecoms Summit will feature talks on issues regarding competition, and a presentation of the summit’s outputs.

Follow the Summit as it happens via livestreaming and use #PHTelecomSummit to join the discussions.

You may access the article, speeches, and presentations from Day 1 on the DICT Website.

DOE Lauds EU Assistance Towards Full Electrification

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi extended his gratitude to the European Union (EU) delegates and assured them that the Philippine government is working doubly hard to provide full access to electricity to Filipinos.

Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella delivered the Secretary's message at the Philippine-EU Access to Sustainable Energy Program (ASEP) conference held on 9 March 2017 at Bonifacio Global City.

The ASEP is a joint undertaking of the DOE and the EU collectively espousing total electrification, energy security, efficiency and sustainability in the Philippines.

“The Philippine government is accelerating its identified households for electrification in order to meet the 100% target by 2022,” said Fuentebella.

DOE Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas highlighted the DOE's overall objective in line with the programs of ASEP in expanding sustainable energy projects and assisting its short- and medium-term targets pursuant to the Philippine Energy Roadmaps.

According to the EU, the Philippines has been granted 60 million Euros (more than P3 billion) worth of assistance to help the country meet its rural electrification targets through various energy and efficiency programs‎.

Interim Team Leader Dr. Ernesto N. Terrado provided details of the ASEP's various Technical Assistance (TA) projects.

In October of last year, ASEP also held a technical planning workshop where the DOE and other stakeholders identified the immediate technical assistance needs of the local energy sector and came up with a framework in achieving the targets set by the energy family.

Top Ten Reasons Why They Love (or Hate) Ross Del Rosario

Wazzup Pilipinas!

How to be you po, Ross Del Rosario?

Has anybody sang you this song "You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you"?

We could easily understand why people love (or hate) you. This is because you inspire many to challenge the system by claiming yourself to be among the "chosen ones." To be a hero even when no one is looking, or when almost everyone is "bashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh! Over the fields they go, laughing all the way!"

We shouldn't have to teach people how to be decent human beings. It's common sense! But it's obviously not common for some people who just don't know how to detach themselves from their "animalistic" behavior. Our basic instinct is to gang up against a perceived opponent even without considering all the facts. We are just so trusting, and forgetful, that it has continued to hurt us for generations.

The most annoying bitches are the ones that hate you too, because their friends hate you. Joining the band-wagon? It's like jumping into a pool with a boost from the diving board even though we haven't seen if it has water. Not to mention that it's not really advisable to be jumping all at the same time. The diving board could not really support us all in one jump to our doom.

But that is how most trial by publicity has ruined reputations. These days, there is no more due process of law, or any investigatory reporting of facts, only social media travesty composed of "fake news" and posts.

Nowadays, you also get to the top not because you're good, but because you know "people." Many are no longer concerned with the story, they just read the headlines, and that's about it.

Now, just why do people love (or hate) you, Ross Del Rosario?