Group says text messaging should be free

MANILA, Philippines - Malacanang is hopeful that that telecommunication firms (telcos) will permanently slash text messaging rates despite reports that reduction rates will only last until October. In a report aired by GMA News' 24 Oras reporter Pia Archangel, Malacanang said they will appeal to permanently cut the text messaging cost. However, they are aware that telcos still have the final say as to whether they will heed it or not. "Private sector decision kasi to eh. Nag-re-respond sila dahil may efforts ang gobyerno to try and reduce it. But this will all depend really on the market forces,"Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said. Sun Cellular, one of the leading telecom giants, said they are open to permanently reduce the text rates. According to an executive of the firm, if the rates go down, more consumers might be attracted to patronize their product. "Just like any product, you have to analyze the volume of business that it's generating against the cost for you to maintain the product," said William Pamintuan, company senior vice president for legal affairs. In the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, she said telecom companies granted her request to reduce text messaging costs to P0.50 from P1. But in her speech, the President did not mention that the reduction was just a promotion. Palace officials said on Wednesday, that the President's was unaware during her SONA that it was just part of the telcos three-month promotion. Meanwhile, the group TXTPOWER said reducing the text messaging rates is not enough. Instead it is pushing for the total removal of text messaging charges. The group said the removal of the rates would not affect the telecom giants greatly because they've already earned billions in revenues from the said service. And it's high time now that they give it back to their patrons. "Smart is actually earning around P36 billion last year, Globe posted about P13.3 billion in the previous year also and ang dami na nilang kinita sa atin. I think it's high time for them to pay it back to the consuming public who made them popular in the country," said Dr. Gani Tapang, TXTPOWER Co-conveyor. The report also quoted the telcos saying it is important to maintain text messaging charges to control the text traffic. They added this is where they get funds to maintain and upgrade the facilities. - GMANews.TV