Senate Committee on Public Services chairman Senator Raffy Tulfo is asking concerned government agencies and telecommunications companies what measures and initiatives are they implementing to address the poor state of internet service in the country and curb cybercrimes, such as online hackings and text message hijackings.
During a Senate hearing, Tulfo pointed out complaints and bad experiences of telco users regarding total outage, if not poor cellular phone signals, in establishments and areas owned or affiliated by the competitors of their registered telco network.
To ensure that the public is given enough signal services, the legislator obliged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to conduct strict monitoring of malls nationwide and work hand in hand with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to hold telco firms accountable for violation of the law.
The lawmaker also ordered the NTC to submit a report and plan of action by January 20.
“The DICT lacks security and stringent monitoring of free public wifi spaces in the country particularly in malls and restaurants where common people would have easy access.”
The senator called out the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for its lack of security and stringent monitoring of free public WiFi spaces in the country particularly in malls and restaurants where common people would have easy access.
He also showed videos of victims who, after they accessed the said free WiFi, lost control of their mobile phones due to hackers who managed to remotely control their cellphones and access sensitive information.
Tulfo also exposed a new technology used by hackers called “text hijacking” wherein hackers can easily intercept legitimate messages from an individuals’ text message conversation.
Despite promises of constant monitoring, he urged the DICT to ameliorate and upgrade cybersecurity programs and policies to ensure that no entity can be able to infiltrate the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure.
“Take precautionary measures whenever accessing public wifi such as not clicking malicious links and immediately giving out sensitive information to questionable messages.”
Tulfo also warned the public to take precautionary measures whenever accessing public wifi such as not clicking malicious links and immediately giving out sensitive information to questionable messages.
On the other hand, he ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to look into the struggle of telcos applying for permits with local government units to establish cellular towers particularly in the provinces to ensure quality and up-to-speed signals for users in geographically disadvantaged areas.
Furthermore, Tulfo also discussed refund mechanisms of telcos to their users in the form of rebates, billing adjustments and other forms of compensation to ensure they are protected from unutilized internet services during disruptions.
