President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked the Philippines' telecommunications providers, as Filipinos shift online for business and education, "can you do a better job?"
"We have to talk about this seriously," Duterte said, adding he continues to receive complaints of inconsistent service. He had urged Globe and Smart to improve their services during his State of the Nation Address last July.
"Ever since telco came into being, it has been the agony of the Filipino people. Why until now, ang telco now is very poor," he said.
"I don't know how to go about this. Me, I just appeal, yung mga telecommunications, can you do a better job? Is there life after this kind of service you are delivering to the public?" he said.
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Barangay officials should make it easier for telcos to build more towers, Duterte said. "Let the telcos do their job," he said.
Duterte issued the statement as PLDT Inc was about to wrap up a long maintenance of its undersea cable that will end 5 a.m. Wednesday.