State of Philippine telcos

Breaking the Barriers: Why the Philippines Needs to Support Telco Upgrades Now

Inadequate internet connectivity in the Philippines is a three-decade-old issue, and although we tend to blame telco corporations, the situation is more complex. Connectivity doesn't just "fall from the sky." It's constructed—cable by cable, tower by tower—by private entities who require access to communities in order to upkeep and upgrade their networks.

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Last week, Globe Telecom made a rare public comment revealing a concealed barrier to quality internet service: unreasonable charges, excessive fees, and downright refusal from some homeowners' associations (HOAs) that are stalling critical infrastructure work.

The Hidden Roadblocks

Some gated residential villages, reports Globe, have pushed the concept of access control to an extreme:

• ₱100,000 "access fee" in one village—without even stating for how long it's effective.
• ₱5,000 daily fee imposed in another, irrespective of work type.
• Other HOAs prohibit the extension of fiber facilities outright, giving residents no upgrade choices.

These obstructions don't only hold up expansion—they block emergency maintenance and repair work. The consequence? Residents, usually at premium rates, are left with shaky connections or total service loss.

The Legal Side: HOAs Cannot Block Utility Access

This is not merely an issue of inconvenience, but also a breach of entrenched laws and policies.

Republic Act 9904 (Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners' Associations) explicitly forbids the prevention of utility service providers from installing, maintaining, or disconnecting services under a ratified contract.

Department Order No. 2022-012 (DHSUD) specifically states that the permission of HOAs is not necessary for the laying of cables on existing poles, underground ducts, or other established telco infrastructure.

In other words: telcos have the right to enter these communities for legitimate service works, and HOAs have no legal grounds to block them.

Why This Matters to All Filipinos

Regardless of whether you're in a gated village or a small barangay, the effects of these blockades propagate throughout the entire network:

1. Slower upgrades – Blocking growth means delayed rollouts of fiber, 5G, and other next-gen technologies.
2. Postponed repairs – Longer closures equal more outages for residents.
3. Slowed economic development – Stable internet is essential for remote work, online learning, e-commerce, and tourism. Without it, they get left behind.
4. International competitiveness – The country is already low on international internet speed rankings. Having more artificial obstacles only makes us worse.

Why Telco Upgrades Are Non-Negotiable

Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury—it's a minimum requirement for:

• Students who take online classes
• Employees who work in work-from-home arrangements
• Businesses which operate e-commerce platforms
• Government services that depend on online platforms

Unless we keep upgrading our networks, we risk losing further ground to our ASEAN neighbors as they leapfrog towards smart cities, AI-facilitated logistics, and super-fast internet infrastructure.

What Needs to Change?

1. Increased LGU Intervention – Local governments need to ensure HOAs are conforming to national regulations.
2. Public Awareness – People should realize that improved connectivity directly benefits them.
3. Strict Penalties – Fines for HOAs stopping legal infrastructure work could discourage misuse.
4. Faster Permitting Processes – Even outside gated communities, bureaucracy by the government is holding back telco projects.

Final Thoughts

The struggle to have faster, more stable internet in the Philippines is not all about the tech—it's about breaking down human barriers. Globe's findings indicate that at times the greatest barriers are not the wires, towers, or expense, but the ones we build ourselves.

If we really want to fill in the digital divide, HOAs and local government must cease acting as gatekeepers and begin as partners in progress. The legislation is already in place—it's time to implement them and get each Filipino online.

So the next time you experience slow internet, lagging connection, you should know who's to blame first.

Mainstream media and IBON Foundation

Why Does Mainstream Media Always Choose IBON Foundation on Economic Matters?

If you've been tracking Philippine news for years, you might have observed this ongoing trend: when the economy is in the headlines—whether GDP growth, inflation, or poverty—IBON Foundation is usually quoted or featured. 

From Wikipedia

For others, though, this ubiquitous visibility brings more than curiosity—particularly because news articles and government security reports have characterized IBON Foundation as an "above-ground" arm of the CPP–NPA, the communist rebel organization that has been active in the Philippines.

Mainstream Media's Go-To "Economic Expert"

And in fairness, there is a pragmatic reason why IBON is seen everywhere. Journalists have them on speed dial because:

• They have instant press releases with information and graphs.
• They present tough, quotable opposition to official government views.
• They have a long history as an outsider's think tank promoting labor rights, equality of income, and protectionist economic policies.

And for the newsroom operating on tight deadlines, IBON is a handy option. But convenience must not stand in for caution—particularly when a source is affiliated with, as credible reports indicate, a four-decade old armed insurgency.

CPP–NPA Allegations

The Philippine Armed Forces (AFP), erstwhile military officials, and various in-depth news articles have characterized IBON Foundation as a component of the legal, underground apparatus of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People's Army (CPP–NPA).

IBON has consistently refuted these claims, but the overlap is hard for its critics to deny:

• Parallel talking points and jargon between IBON pronouncements and CPP statements.
• Historical affiliations of some IBON members with leftist or activist organizations with links to the communist movement.
• Positions for advocacy coinciding with the CPP's political platform.

Whether or not one finds these views sympahtetic, the security issues cannot be ignored.

Same Color Politics

It's not just about economics, critics claim—its about ideology.

Some media are seen to lean in the same political "color" as IBON: left-leaning, anti-establishment, and usually very critical of U.S. relations and market liberalization.

This convergence accounts for why:

1. IBON is most frequently called upon for "alternative" data with little equal time for other economists.
2. Their criticisms are aired while voices in favor of reforms are marginalized.
3. The same anti-administration narratives are recycled across both IBON and some media.

The Risks of Overreliance

Even without the CPP–NPA charges, there are risks in having any single source of economic commentary:

• It limits the public's exposure to varied views.
• It runs the risk of infusing partisan ideology into purportedly objective reporting.
• It can harm media credibility if audiences perceive reporting as politically slanted—or better yet, sympathetic to groups linked to insurgents.

Moving Forward

If mainstream media wishes to maintain trust:

1. Expand the pool of experts – Feature economists from universities, think tanks, and business circles with a range of views.
2. Make disclosure – When quoting IBON, state its reported political affiliations so people can judge for themselves.
3. Encourage genuine debate – Allow the public to hear contrary analyses back to back, not separately.

For the people: stay skeptical. Don't take economic claims at face value—verify the source, check the agenda, and cross-reference with other sound data.

Last Thought:

Assuming the reports about IBON Foundation as an above-ground CPP–NPA organization are true, mainstream media's uncritical use of it for economic analysis is ultimately not just lazy reporting—it's potentially serving a group with decades of history of armed struggle against the state.

Equitable reporting is mediated by many voices and complete transparency if those voices carry political or insurgent affiliations.

No ID, No Entry

No ID, No Service? Why Vice Ganda's Take on the PH ID System Falls Short

During a recent episode of It's Showtime, host and actress Vice Ganda hit a sore spot when she accused what she called the "irony" of the Philippine ID system. Imitating a vexing situation common to many Filipinos, she demonstrated how some officials reject applicants who don't have a valid ID—when the reason they're applying in the first place is that they don't have one to start with.

"No ID? No ID. Kaya hindi ka magkaka-ID sa bansang 'to!"
– Vice Ganda, It's Showtime

The joke was met with guffaws and applause, but also prompted a necessary national discussion. Even though Vice's attitude was one shared by many, it's important that we look beyond the punchline here—because though the criticism is just in intent, the whole story is decidedly more complicated.

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The Flawed Logic Behind the "No ID, No ID" Argument

Let’s break it down.

Yes, it does sound ridiculous at first: how can one be expected to show an ID in order to get one?

But what Vice Ganda failed to acknowledge is this: it’s not about being denied for not having any ID—it’s about verifying identity to prevent fraud, duplication, or exploitation of the system.

And the reality is, there are workarounds in place.

For example:

• When you apply for the PhilSys National ID, you don't have to submit a government ID—you can use other documents such as your birth certificate, barangay certification, or even school records.
• For other government IDs such as the Postal ID or Barangay Clearance, local certifying or witness validation can be substituted for formal IDs.
• For first-time claimants of SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, a certificate of live birth, or even barangay certification with photo, can be preliminary validation.

So the system isn't as closed-looped or ironic as the skit paints it out to be. It's just poorly explained—and sometimes inconsistently applied, particularly at the barangay or municipal level.

The Real Problem: Bureaucratic Culture, Not the ID System Itself

Vice Ganda's remarks picked at a deeper aspect than mere ID requirements—it brushed against the bureaucratic culture that excludes the poor, the undocumented, and the marginalized.

These are:

• Local government offices with variable documentation standards
• Frontliners who are not trained or who inflexibly apply procedures
• Inadequate digital infrastructure in far-flung areas, slowing down ID processing
• Government agencies' duplicative roles causing duplicate requirements

These are genuine issues. But accusing the entire ID system as ironic or "useless" is an oversimplification of the issue—and also preempts its solution.

What the Philippine ID System Actually Aims to Solve

National ID system (PhilSys) was implemented to make government services easier to access, reduce red tape, and provide one verifiable identity for every Filipino—even the undocumented ones.

Some of its advantages are:

• Access to banking for the unbanked
• Faster disbursement of government assistance
• Streamlined SIM card, passport, and employment application registration
• Less corruption through biometric identification

In short, the national ID is meant to put an end to the very vicious cycle Vice Ganda was mocking. And though rollout has been sluggish and bumpy, it's a move towards having a digital, inclusive, and secure identification system for all Filipinos.

A More Sensible Approach: Fix the Culture, Not Mock the System

Vice Ganda has undeniable influence, and we welcome her populism. We applaud her advocacy for the masses. But let us avoid transforming grave national issues into memes or slogans.

Yes, criticize inefficiencies.

Yes, bring attention to injustices.

But let us also:

• Push for public information campaigns regarding legitimate alternative documents
• Urge LGUs and agencies to streamline processes
• Call for accountability on the part of agencies for delayed or refused ID issuance
• Support digital ID reform that goes to the grassroots

The answer isn't to destroy the system with sarcasm—it's to require its better enforcement and accessibility.

Last Thoughts

The ID system in the Philippines is not perfect. It is not, however, necessarily broken or ironic either. It's a tool that—if enforced well—can empower millions and bridge gaps in access to public services.

Rather than make people laugh in despair, let's make them see their rights, their choices, and their strength to make them demand more.

Because the joke is not so much the ID requirement—it's when we allow myths to dissuade real reform.

About the impeachment

Impeachment of VP Sara Duterte: What Happened and Why It Matters

On February 5, 2025, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio became the first sitting Philippine vice president to face impeachment by the House of Representatives, marking a historic and highly controversial political episode. Philstar.com+10Philstar.com+10TIME+10

The Complaints: What Was She Accused Of?

Multiple groups filed three separate impeachment complaints between December 2024 and January 2025, by civil society organizations, religious leaders, lawyers, and victims’ families. 

Philstar.com+3Philstar.com+3Wikipedia+3

Allegations included:

• Misuse and malversation of over ₱612 million in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President and DepEd. Philstar.com+10Philstar.com+10Wikipedia+10
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• Betrayal of public trust, graft & corruption, and undermining legislative oversight. AP News+15Philstar.com+15Philstar.com+15
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• Threats and extremist rhetoric, including alleged plotting to assassinate officials and inciting sedition. Wikipedia+2YouTube+2

The complaints consolidated into a fourth impeachment complaint, endorsed by 215 House members—a clear majority above the constitutional minimum of 102—fast-tracking it to the Senate without committee referrals. rappler.com+12PCIJ.org+12Philstar.com+12

The Legal Process: From House to Senate

Once the third complaint was filed, the House leadership invoked the "third mode" impeachment rule, allowing the complaint—now treated as Articles of Impeachment—to go directly to the Senate. PCIJ.org

What comes next:

House-appointed prosecutors (11 members) will argue the case in the Senate. Philstar.com

The Senate serves as the impeachment court; a two-thirds vote (16 of 24) is required to convict and remove Duterte.

Conviction leads to lifetime disqualification from public office, though no penalties like jail time are automatically imposed. Philstar.com+1

Civil society leaders—including Caritas Philippines—have called for a swift, impartial process, warning that delays weaken public trust. Reddit

What It Signals Politically

The impeachment came amid a bitter breakdown between Sara Duterte and allies of President Marcos Jr., who once traveled together during the 2022 elections. pna.gov.ph+9TIME+9YouTube+9

Her opponents—many now aligned with Marcos—worked to quickly secure the one-third vote needed. Notably, Sandro Marcos, the president’s son, endorsed the complaint. Philstar.com+1

Still, many Dutertes maintain a strong political base. Despite impeachment, Rodrigo Duterte was re-elected mayor of Davao while detained at the ICC, and other family allies won limelight Senate seats. TIME+1

Supreme Court Intervention: A Critical Twist

On July 25, 2025, the Philippine Supreme Court dismissed the impeachment complaint—not on merits but because it violated the constitutional rule banning multiple impeachment attempts within one year. Since three complaints had already been verified, the fourth was deemed unconstitutional. reuters.com

This ruling halts the Senate trial entirely for now and strengthens Sara Duterte’s political position, especially as a frontrunner for the 2028 presidential race. reuters.com

Key Takeaways

Final Perspective

Sara Duterte’s impeachment underscores a fractured political landscape in the Philippines. While accountability mechanisms are at work, the process also mirrors power struggles between two dynasties.

Her eventual fate is now paused—not decided—pending procedural timing. The constitutional safeguard that protected her may also embolden more legal challenges in the future.