Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. said that telecommunications infrastructure should also be included in the “Build, Build, Build” program of the administration.
In a press briefing Wednesday, may 24, Rio said the Philippine government must support the growth of the information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry, a major dollar earner for the country.
He added that the IT-BPO sector is moving towards artificial intelligence that would require ?very fast and very expensive Internet connectivity?. ?We have to build infrastructure. The ICT infrastructure in this country is almost all privately funded, almost no government investment unlike in our neighboring countries,? the interim DICT chief said.
Rio said the government should invest in international gateway and backhaul, while the middle mile and last mile components can be given to small telco players, which have subscribers and strong presence in rural areas.
He added that government investments on ICT infrastructure will improve Internet connectivity in rural areas and would allow them to host IT-BPO players, thereby creating jobs in the countryside.
The Duterte administration is eyeing to spend P8 trillion to P9 trillion for its Build Build Build Program, investing on infrastructure projects throughout the country. Most of these infrastructures are roads, bridges, seaports, airports, and transport infrastructure, among others, but has yet to include ICT facilities. — Kris Crismundo (PNA)
