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Instead of slapping new taxes, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also prodded the government to extend fresh capital and other financial assistance to budding online entrepreneurs.

A senator said public elementary schools provide viable spots for cell sites that would ensure nationwide Internet access.

Meralco initially waived the 47 peso-convenience fee during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) but the company recently announced that it will resume collecting the fee from consumers who wish to pay their bills online after Metro Manila and other cities started reopening payment and business centers.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to defer its plan to impose taxes on small-time online sellers amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the proposed taxation at the height of the economic and health crisis is ill-timed and insensitive.

With more Filipinos turning to the Internet to conduct daily businesses under the new economy, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for the Internet Transactions Act to make transactions easier and faster in order to strengthen the country's digital economy.

Senate Bill No. 1565 filed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian seeks the installation of electronic and online systems for seamless exchange of data and information between DepEd offices, learners, and parents.

A Senate resolution noted the DICT has not been meeting its targets. In 2018, the agency targeted to add 5,308 sites in 1,500 cities. But as of April 13, 2020, there are only 3,707 live hotspots across the country's public spaces.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said DepEd should increase the capacity of its online-based education for the next school year in the event of a prolonged crisis due to Covid-19, while Sen. Sonny Angara said he will file a bill establishing a Philippine eHealth system.

Local telcos earlier estimated that the process of integration, interoperability, and other technical preparations would take some time and will make number portability services ready by the second half of 2021.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian pointed out that mobile number portability should be available within six months from the promulgation of the IRR, as provided under Section 11 of the Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA).