INFRASTRUCTURE
SECTOR BACKGROUND AND POTENTIAL
The Philippines is significantly underinvesting in physical infrastructure, with its public sector infrastructure budget consistently below 3% of GDP. Spending on social infrastructure for education and health is also inadequate at slightly over 4% of GDP. Polls of businessmen repeatedly show poor infrastructure as one of the top challenges facing the Philippine economy, second only to corruption. Like corruption, poor infrastructure severely weakens economic competitiveness.
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Airports
With its archipelagic character, the Philippines depends on air and sea transport much more than countries with large continuous landmasses. Since a high percentage of domestic and international commerce and travel is by air and sea, the efficiency of aviation and maritime transportation.... [ Read This Chapter ]Power
Electric power and water are essential needs for modern man, to survive, and to thrive. In the globe’s fastest-growing region – Asia – they are especially critical to economic growth and competitiveness. [ Read This Chapter ]
Duterte administration to ramp up infra spending
7 June, 2016 at 10:12
The Duterte administration plans to boost infrastructure spending to as much as 7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), higher than the Aquino government’s target of 5 percent this year, as the incoming budget chief lamented the present sorry state of infrastructure.
PCC asserts authority with completion of IRR
6 June, 2016 at 12:00
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) can now finally exercise its authority in ensuring that dominant industries players or monopolies will not become abusive in operating their businesses.
Review of telecom spectrum allocation pushed
6 June, 2016 at 11:00
A group of prominent economists has urged the incoming Duterte administration to review telecom spectrum allocation in the country to benefit consumers.
New Philippine govt plans review of coal...
3 June, 2016 at 19:00
The new Philippine administration needs to review dozens of coal-fired power projects now underway or still on the drawing board as it seeks increased use of renewable energy, the country’s incoming economic planning chief said.
FEF Statement on SMC Sale to PLDT...
3 June, 2016 at 18:00
Considering the implications of San Miguel Corporation (SMC)’s sale of its telecommunication assets to Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Globe Telecom, Inc. (Globe)…
PLDT, Globe vow to improve Internet service...
3 June, 2016 at 17:00
“Yes, we heard that. I think we could deliver. I think we’ll be able to see improvements immediately in certain spectrums. But we need a bit more time, between three to six months for the 700 MHz,” PLDT President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters.
Rody to declare ‘traffic crisis’ in Metro...
3 June, 2016 at 13:00
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will declare a “traffic crisis” in Metro Manila so he can take extraordinary measures to ease vehicular congestion, his choice of economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia said yesterday.
Our telco duopoly
3 June, 2016 at 11:33
I must confess I was disappointed when I heard the news that San Miguel threw in the towel on its telco and whistled happily all the way to the bank instead. Somehow, silly ol’ me believed Ramon Ang’s passionate promise to disrupt the telco industry soon by offering lower prices and better service.
PCC should flex muscle on 700-MHz deal–PCCI
2 June, 2016 at 13:47
Business groups—long tired of the poor Internet service in the country as most Filipinos are—received the news on Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT’s acquisition of the prized 700-megahertz (MHz) band with little hope that the deal would lead to better services soon.
[VIDEO] Competition chief: Telco assets acquisition needs...
1 June, 2016 at 14:20
There was much fanfare when Globe Telecom and PLDT announced their takeover of San Miguel’s telco assets. But the competition watchdog is now saying — not so fast.
Anti-trust body faces tough test in telco...
1 June, 2016 at 11:30
Manila, Philippines – A tough initial test lies ahead for the country’s newly-formed anti-trust commission as it is expected to collide with three of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates to probe a multi-billion-peso telecommunications deal.
PCC Statement on Globe and PLDT purchase...
31 May, 2016 at 14:00
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has received numerous inquiries from the press about the purchase of San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) telecommunications business by Globe and PLDT, which was publicized in the news on 30 May 2016.
Anticompetitive practice in SMC telco deal eyed
31 May, 2016 at 12:00
Looking into possible anticompetitive practices in the telecommunications in-dustry is expected to be one of the first cases that the newly formed Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) will take on, but consumers need to do their part.
SMC sells telco assets to PLDT, Globe
30 May, 2016 at 14:07
Industry giants Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecom will jointly buy out the telecommunications assets of conglomerate San Miguel Corp.
Duterte to pursue PPP projects
30 May, 2016 at 11:29
The administration of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte is set to vigorously pursue public-private partnerships (PPP) for infrastructure projects which the government cannot finance.
The third utility
26 May, 2016 at 14:30
Two weeks after the 2016 elections, and six weeks before his term ends, President Aquino signed the “Department of Information and Communications Technology Act of 2015” into law.
