Cebu City dad says consumers will benefit from entry of third major telco

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Eduardo Rama Jr. expects an improvement in the internet and mobile connections here following the entry of Dito Telecommunity Corporation.

Rama said that competition between the three major telecommunication companies, which includes Smart and Globe, will benefit the consumers the most as the prices for services are expected to drop.

“The more telcos (telecommunication companies), the better. The competition would force other companies to step up their game and will give consumers more options,” said Rama.

The councilor said that when options are abundant for consumers, it would prompt the current telcos to improve services so they could compete.

However, Rama is also aware of the apprehensions of the residents on DITO as the telco has to build more cellular sites to provide quality service.

Many residents, including those in Barangay Apas, have refused to allow the telecommunication company to build cell sites near their homes.

Read: Residents in Cebu City barangay say no to third telco’s cell site

These residents have written to the City Council regarding these cell sites and insisted that they cannot allow the cell sites to be constructed as these, according to them, pose health risks.

The telecommunication companies have already said there is no risk of cancer or any illnesses associated with the cell site.

Rama said that to date, there have been no findings or statements from the proper governing agencies such as the Department of Health showing that proximity to cell sites causes any known health risks.

The national government has already given a go signal for DITO to build cell sites in the three metropolises in the country without the need for local permits.

This issue has been tackled in the council because of the rampant objections of residents, and Rama said the city government has to follow the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) mandate on allowing DITO to operate smoothly.

Still, he respects the democratic process and advised that public hearings will continue in the barangays.

Rama urges the city residents to maintain an open mind over the arrival of the new telco as this is necessary for the improvement of communication in the city.

The Office of the Building Official (OBO) also said that 10 of the 48 applications of DITO have already been approved while 38 are pending applications.

OBO head, Architect Florante Catalan, said that DITO has to comply with some deficiencies for these applications to be approved, although he has not specified what these deficiencies are.

/bmjo