The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) called on the government to treat connectivity as critical infrastructure on par with roads, energy and ports and urged policy reforms to bridge the country’s digital divide.
The business group said expanding last-mile connectivity in remote areas, accelerating infrastructure rollout and ensuring competition and affordability are crucial to digital inclusion.
“Connectivity must be treated as critical infrastructure,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, PCCI director for ICT and chair of the 51st Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) in a statement.
“There should be more strategic investment in both fixed and mobile broadband networks, especially in underserved regions, to enable more Filipinos and businesses to participate in the digital economy,” he said.
The PCCI also underscored the need for spectrum management to fast-track 5G deployment, stronger support for community networks and incentives for infrastructure sharing and open-access models to drive down costs and widen nationwide coverage.
PCCI president Enunina Mangio said broadband access should be prioritized as the foundation of inclusive growth, noting that rural areas should have the same level of access and reliability as urban centers.
She said the cost and speed of connectivity should match or even surpass those of neighboring countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The group acknowledged reforms such as the amended Public Service Act, the SIM Card Registration Law, the Digital Transformation Roadmap and the National Fiber Backbone as steps in the right direction but emphasized that more needs to be done.
“Open, affordable, and nationwide connectivity will not just future-proof our economy, it will empower every Filipino to take part in that future starting today,” Uy said.
