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By Jomar Canlas, Reporter
THE Philippines, not China, holds the record for
having the most number of text messages sent through mobile phones,
with telecommunication companies earning P13 billion annually from
the service.
With those facts, Rep. Danilo Suarez of Quezon
Province ordered the officials of Globe, Smart and Digitel
Telecommunications to submit their income tax returns to know if
their high-paying salaries correspond to their payment of the right
taxes.
During the joint hearing on Wednesday by the
House Committee on Information, Communication, Technology, Oversight
and Legislative Franchises, lawmakers sought the lowering of prices
of text messages by as much as 50 centavos.
According to Jaime Fortes, National
Telecommunications Commission deputy commissioner, Filipinos are
sending 55 million text messages per day which is equivalent to P55
million per day. Each Filipino sends 20 text messages per day, or an
estimated total of 180 billion per year.
“We are disputing the record of China which is
200 billion text messages per year because [the] Chinese are not
savvy as compared to Filipinos with regards to texting,” he said.
Suarez said that officials and employees of
Globe alone got a total of P20 million in Christmas bonuses because
of higher profits last year. Globe Senior Vice President Rodolfo
Salalima admitted that their company earned P13 billion in 2007
alone.
Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque said that it is
better for the telecom firms to lower the amount of texting to 50
centavos so more Filipinos can avail of the service.
But Smart official Roy Ibay said that the
Philippines is the country offering the lowest amount for
text-messaging services.
He said that if House Bill 456 or the Free Text
Messaging Bill will be approved, the telecom industry will collapse
as well as businesses that are selling prepaid loads.
Rep. Monico Puentevella of Bacolod said the
committee will also look into other matters, like charges on missed
or drop calls. He challenged the telecom firms to make sacrifices
for the Filipino people.
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