President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace
July 8, 2019

More than a year since he directed government agencies to “commence the selection and assignment of a radio frequency for a new telco [telecommunications] player” to solve the country’s internet woes, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte witnessed the awarding of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc. (Mislatel) in an issuance ceremony at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace.

“After complying with the stringent standards set by the National Telecommunications Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Philippine Competition Commission, our telco player posted a performance security bond amounting to PhP 25.7 billion. Accompanying this bond is a commitment – that I will hold you to that commitment – that you will improve the country’s prevailing Internet speed from 4.5 Mbps to 55 Mbps,” President Duterte said.

He lauded the efforts of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for taking one step forward in advancing the administration’s efforts to provide “fast, reliable, secure and more affordable telco services” to the Filipino people.

“Let me take this opportunity to pose this challenge to Mislatel: Break the prevailing duopoly in the telecommunications industry,” he added.

The Chief Executive also encouraged the public to engage in “productive ICT-based undertakings” with the rise of a more vibrant telco industry.

“Indeed, a well connected society is a well informed and empowered one,” he concluded.

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