Improving Mindanao’s Digital Infrastructure and Internet Broadband in the

New Normal FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION | October 2, 2020

Mindanao Development

Authority

Mindanao Development Authority

COORDINATES• Mindanao-wide initiatives• Philippine Coordinating

Office for BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE)

HARMONIZES• Efforts with a Mindanao-

wide perspective

INTEGRATES• Mindanao agenda

Republic Act 9996

Governing Board of MinDA

Senate Congress

Congress

RDC XIII

RDC XI

RDC XII

NCMF

PSR-NGO Secretary

PSR-Business

SPDA

ULAP

RDC X

RDC IX

BARMM

Chair

Mindanao RoadmapEdit

here

Edit

here

Edit

here

Edit

here

PEACE, PRODUCTIVITY, AND POVERTY

REDUCTION “Improved Quality of Life for

every Mindanawon by 2030”

5

Peace Productivity Poverty Reduction

2040 AMBISYON NATIN: MATATAG, MAGINHAWA, AT PANATAG NA BUHAY

2022 PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN: MALASAKIT, PAGBABAGO, PATULOY NA PAG-UNLAD

2025 BIMP-EAGA VISION: RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE

MINDANAO 2030PEACE, PRODUCTIVITY AND POVERTY REDUCTION FRAMEWORK PLAN (2011-2030)

“Improved Quality of Life for every Mindanawons by 2030”

ENVIRONMENT: Ensuring Integrity of Environment for all Generations

ENABLING CONDITIONS: Establishing Enabling Environment 2030

ECONOMY: In Quest of a Dynamic, Inclusive Mindanao Economy

PEACE AND SECURITY: Peace Once and For All

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION: A Mindanao Free of Want,

Free of Fear

GOVERNANCE: Self-Resilience and Self-Determination Fulfilled

INNOVATION: Promote and Stimulate Science, Technology, and Innovation

Harnessing Mindanao’s Comparative AdvantageMINDANAO DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS (MinDC)

“State of the Art ICT Infrastructure that provides reliable, affordable

and high-speed connectivity , links people and systems, allows

efficient exchange of information and knowledge and ensures

universal access; all for promoting economic growth, strengthening institutions and governance and

empowering people and communities.”

-CHAPTER 9: ENABLING CONDITIONS: Requisites For Realizing Mindanao 2020

GOAL

By 2020• All public elementary schools in cities

and provincial centers have internetaccess and at least five computers for useby students

• All LGUs have computerized systems anddedicated computer centers for use byfarmers, fisherfolks, and SMEs for theiroperations and marketing

• Mindanao BPOs contribute 10% ofcountry’s BPO earnings

By 2030• All schools have Internet access and

computer laboratories• All types of transactions needed by the

public with LGUs can be done online• Mindanao BPOs contribute 20% of

country’s BPO earnings

TARGETS

Source: CHAPTER 7: Economy an EnviAnd CHAPTER 9: Enabling Conditions

11th BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit 29 April 2017 Manila, Philippines

BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025: R.I.S.E. BIMP-EAGAto narrow the development gap.Resilient, Inclusive, Sustainable and Economically Competitive

Integrating Mindanao

Mindanao and Palawan are part of

BIMP-EAGA

BIMP-EAGA ICT INFRASTRUCTURE CLUSTER is one of the clusters under the CONNECTIVITY Pillar.

-the CLUSTER meetsregularly at leasttwice a year.

-BIMP-EAGA ICT CEOsFORUM is its private sector counterpart

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM-INDONESIA-MALAYSIA- PHILIPPINES EAST ASEAN GROWTH AREA

Connectivity PillarICT INFRA CLUSTER Outcome/Outputs

Goal:

BIMP-EAGA as a single ICT-enabled community with high-quality infrastructure and improved accessibility, competent human

resources in ICT and technology innovations developed.

Outputs:

Improved ICT Connectivity and Infrastructure (hard and soft) in selected BIMP-EAGA areas;

E-Commerce platforms developed for the subregion;

Competent ICT Human Resources developed;

ICT Products and Services, Technological Innovations developed

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM-INDONESIA-MALAYSIA- PHILIPPINES EAST ASEAN GROWTH AREA

YEAR 2020

COVID 19 Pandemic

Use of Online Platforms is the New Normal

10/6/201913

CURRENT STATE OF MINDANAO INTERNET

1) unreliable internet connectivity, 2) slow Internet3) there are still unserved and underserved areas with Internet

Access to Internet

Source: Social Weather Station

PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS USING THE INTERNET BY AREA

(PERIOD: MARCH 2018 to MARCH 2019)

Internet speeds in the country is at best 32% of global fixed broadband speeds, and 53% for mobile broadband

Fixed Broadband

Download Speed

(Mbps)

Mobile Broadband

Download Speed

(Mbps)

Philippine

Average

19.28 14.46

Global Average 59.6 27.22

Source: Ookla’s Global Speedtest, cited in https://taborasj.wordpress.com/2020/07/09/urgent-need-to-increase-internet-connectivity

Mbps – megabits per second, unit measure for Internet speed

Slow Internet in PH

Internet speeds in key areas in the country

Area Average Internet

Speed (Mbps)

Cotabato City 1.03

Davao City 2.57

Cagayan de Oro City 2.79

Cebu City 2.62

Bacolod City 2.44

Naga City 9.57

Quezon City 6.04

Makati City 4.06

City of Manila 3.19

Source: Measurement Lab (MLab) of Princeton University, Google, Open Technology Institute and Code for Science and Society,

cited in https://taborasj.wordpress.com/2020/07/09/urgent-need-to-increase-internet-connectivity-and-speed/

Slower Internet in Mindanao

With the ongoing pandemicWe need access to fast and stable internet, and we need

this now(today, not next year)

IMPERATIVES ON IMPROVING MINDANAO’S DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE:

A WORK IN PROGRESS

1. FASTRACK IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

2. ADVOCATE FOR POLICY REFORMS

3. PROMOTE INVESTMENTS IN ICT DEVELOPMENT

Proposed Intervention (Immediate Term)

1) Fastrack implementation of programs and projects that will improve Mindanao’s digital infrastructure (hard and soft)

DICT’s Program and Projects that covers Mindanao

• National Broadband Program (NBP) (includes GovNet)

• Free Wifi for All

• Tech4Ed Program

• Digital Cities Program, among others

Source: Department of ICT

Source: Department of ICT

Source: Department of ICT

Source: Department of ICT

Source: Department of ICT

Source: Department of ICT

Proposed intervention: Immediate Term

• Request the duopoly Smart/PLDT and Globe to improve their services.

The problem is that they have known about these issues for a long time now, yet no satisfactory actions have been undertaken from their end.

Proposed Interventions (Immediate Term)

2) Advocate for Policy Reforms for Better Internet Connectivity in Mindanao esp. in the countryside

MinDA Board recently passed a resolution supporting the reforms

recommended by the Better Broadband Alliance (September 8, 2020)

• Allow the granting of open access in data transmission to

level the playing field and allow competition in the business of

providing internet services. PENDING BILLS: Better Internet Bill,

Open Access Internet Bill, which will serve this purpose.

(Advocated by the Better Broadband Alliance group)

• Liberalize access to satellite for Internet. AMEND EO 467 or

Pass a NEW EO : To allow other entities such as Internet Service

Providers (ISPs) and Value-Added Service (VAS) Providers and

not only Public Telecom Entities with franchise to directly access

satellite technology for Internet.

• SUSTAIN MINDA’S BUDGET ADVOCACY FOR A

FAIR SHARE IN THENATIONAL BUDGET

DICT BUDGET

ALLOCATION

2020: Php 111.6 Million

2019: Php 90.6 Million

Increase: 23.3 % from

Previous year

allocation

Proposed intervention: Promote ICT Investments in Mindanao

• Hasten the entry of the third telco (DITO, etc.), delayed by the pandemic, into the market. The more telco players in the Philippines, as in Singapore, the better.

• Implement RA 11033: Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Gov’t. Service Delivery Act of 2018: LGUs may be instructed to facilitate, not delay, laying infrastructure for these new telcos.

We need more towers to support the demand and to improve Internet speed and future growth

• Average of 4,000 users per cell site in the Philippines

• Country needs to have at least 40k to 50k cell sites

• Currently there are only three(3) telcos building cell sites

Source: Globe Telecom Presentation

Proposed interventions:

• Improve the fiber optic spine of the country to bring us more connectivity and speed. This is programmed for next year. Billion peso projects to improve digital infrastructure being proposed in Congress for 2021.

• Put up Philippine satellites owned by the people. This is a proposal of the Ateneo de Davao, which currently has a aerospace program. ADDU advocates Internet Democracy and Rights.

10/6/201936

Need to improve Mindanao’s digital infrastructure

and Internet broadband in the New Normal

10/3/2 Integrating MINDANAO | 37

Continued Coordination and Collaboration with Key Partner

Agencies and Private Sector/Academe/NGOs in Mindanao

• National Telecoms Commission (DICT-NTC)• Department of Trade and Industry• Department of Science and Technology• National ICT Confederation of the Phil.(ICT Councils in Mindanao/ICT Davao Inc.,CDO ICT Business Council, Bukidnon ICTCouncil, SOCSKSARGEN ICT Council, Palawan ICT Assn.etc.)• Academe/Universities/Colleges (MSU-IIT,Ateneo de Davao, UM, USEP, USTP-CDO, Xavier University, etc.)• BIMP-EAGA ICT Infra Cluster/ICT CEOs Forum• Mindanao Business Council• Mindanao/BIMP-EAGA Affairs Committees (Congress)• Non-government Organization such asChambers of Commerce and Industry)• Donor/ODA Partners (ADB, USAID, JICA, etc.)• LGUs in Mindanao, among others