Bacoor homeowners decry monopoly of internet service provider

A homeowners group called on the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to act on their complaint on the alleged monopoly of an internet service provider inside their subvision in Molino 4, Bacoor City, Cavite.

Cerritos Heights Homeowners Association Inc. (CHHAI) president Toteng Tanglao said that the group submitted a letter to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) requesting that internet service providers aside from Planet Cable be allowed to operate in their subdivision.

“Sumulat din kami sa NTC, ang sabi ng (We also wrote a letter, and NTC said), ‘you better refer this sa (to) Philippine Competition Commission.’ Sumagot naman si PCC ( PCC answered), ang sabi nila, ‘patunayan ninyo na may monopoly (they said prove the alleged monopoly),” Tanglao said.

He added that the PCC also did not respond to the appeal of Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla.

“Even ‘yung (their) reply nila kay (to) Mayor Lani, they never replied about the monopoly, they just told them na maayos ang serbisyo ng cable, ‘yun ang kanilang style (the service will be better, that’s their style),” he said.

Tanglao stressed that a backup internet connection is vital especially now that most of the homeowners are working from home and the students have shifted to online learning.

“We wish to assert our right to enjoy the benefits of competition, especially in getting the best possible internet provider. The need for reliable connectivity is even more pronounced today, especially as the uncertainty over the coronavirus desease 2019 (Covid-19) is forcing everyone to adapt to the new normal. This means work from home is no longer an option but a requirement in order to keep jobs. Students will also transition to online learning because this is now part of the Philippine education system,” the homeowners said in their petition.

The homeowners first submitted the petition in 2020 but concerned agencies failed to act on it, Tanglao said.