DICT

In January, the DICT said it wanted to reduce to seven days the process of issuance of permits for telcos in compliance with Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act. Currently, it takes eight months to secure at least 25 necessary permits and documents on building towers.

The agency said it will release a memorandum circular on child online protection and will be seeking inputs from technology providers.

The DICT said the local telcos were given six months to comply from the effectivity of the NTC's implementing rules and regulations of the Mobile Number Portability Act on July 2.

Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said the company is taking a leap towards improving ICT infrastructure in the Philippines by being the first mobile operator to support the government's common tower initiative.

Tech4ED is a national digital inclusion initiative establishing eCenters that provide e-government and ICT-enabled services in communities with minimal or no access to information and government services.

The rollout of the fiber optic cables will also form part of the DICT's Free Public Wi-Fi network to reach the unserved and underserved areas in the country.

The Qrent app will serve as a platform for people wanting to post an item for rent or those looking for things to rent.

ICT Committee chairman Victor Yap said he intends to look into the status of the proposed common tower policy of the DICT.

Government agencies have issued a call to parents to monitor their children’s use of the Internet as the so-called "Momo Challenge", an alleged suicide challenge targeting children and adolescents, became viral online.

NPC chair Raymund Liboro said the law gives data subjects control over their data which is a basic tenet under the Data Privacy Act.