POE BACKS NETIZENS, TELLS TELCOS TO SHAPE UP

Slow internet service, poor connection, dropped calls, exorbitant charges, disappearing load -- these were among the complaints of netizens who took to Senator Grace Poe's social media accounts to seek action against the atrocious services of telecommunications companies in the country.

Using the hashtag #TellPOEonTelco, Poe urged netizens using her Facebook and Twitter accounts to "let your voice be heard" and speak up about the services of the country's telecommunications providers. (https://www.facebook.com/sengracepoe (https://twitter.com/SenGracePOE)

"We deserve good telco service, kaya't i-share na ang inyong karanasan sa serbisyo ng text, call at internet ninyo," she called on the public.

The post was instantly viewed and shared by social media users, and generated comments about the inadequate service of the country's telcos.

"It's a pity hearing the same old complaints about speed, affordability and coverage in the age of fast technology." Poe said.

"As a consumer, I can very much relate, and so our united call to the telecommunications companies is to give us our money's worth and improve your services," she said.

Despite little or no improvement in their service, telcos have been raising rates using creative marketing strategies in the guise of promotions.

Telcos have slowly removed their unlimited data plan in their mobile subscriptions and shifted to volume pricing and introduced caps on prepaid and postpaid plans. This way, they are able to charge more per customer as data consumption increases and at the same time, able to cut down on heavy users.

"Meron pa silang tinatawag na Anti Bill Shock Guarantee at Shock Proof Data Charging, pero sa huli ay shocking pa rin ang buwanang bill natin," Poe said.

"The complaints of netizens will not fall on deaf ears. We will gather them and raise them in the appropriate committee hearings, so they will have a voice in the reforms we want instituted in the telco industry," she added.

Already, there are several bills pending before the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking wide-ranging reforms in the telecommunications industry to improve internet and mobile services in the country and make them at par with international standards.

Even President Rodrigo Duterte had warned that he might push for the opening of the local telecommunications industry to foreign competitors if they do not beef up on their services.

Poe said this reflected the same sentiment of a netizen who made a comment in her Facebook page. According to the Facebook user, "There's no real competition. Here, it's comparing a rotten apple with another rotten apple. It's a duopoly, there's no real incentive to improve service."