Cellphone metering can earn funds for computer labs in public high schools

MANILA, Philippines - A legislator proposed to install devices that would monitor the number of text messages in all Philippine cellphones, a move that could earn additional revenues for the government. Besides allowing prepaid subscribers to determine their phone credits (or “load"), the metering system would also provide accurate figures of earnings of telecommunications firms, a legislator said. If two billion text messages are sent in a day, a five-centavo text fee will translate to P100 million a day in government revenue, Quezon Province Representative Danilo E. Suarez told reporters. The said amount, which translates into P3 billion a month or P36 billion a year, can be used to put up computer labs with 50 internet-ready PCs in all public schools, he added. The same funds could even help put up computer labs for private schools at no cost to them, he said. Under his proposal, the NTC will order telecommunications to remit five centavos for every transaction. For their part, mobile operators would be unable to pass this fee on to consumers since texts will be pegged at 50 centavos. Suarez filed House Resolution 282, which intends to look into the possibility of installing metering devices to monitor revenues of telecommunication firms in their database such as e-loading, sale of pre-paid cards, text messaging, and interconnection fees. “I think there are several layers of revenue streams not being captured," he said, adding that his proposal “is not a tax but a fee." Meanwhile, the metering device could be acquired by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) for $30 million, he said. “This is not a tax but a fee. If I go to legislative process, this will be already goodbye. I can only ask National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to impose fees for their own use so we can monitor the revenue," he said. In turn, computer labs established by the said funds “will help promote user-confidence with students in all levels," he said. “The computer lab can also be used as an instructional facility for adults who are interested to learn about computers and the Internet." For his part, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Edgardo G. Lacson said consultations with mobile phone firms on "financial, technical and practicability of the plan must be conducted to identify other concerns that might disrupt the service." "Putting a metering device among the telcos is no different than the cash registers in the supermarkets, food establishments and retail stores and taxi meters. It does not ssem to violate the privacy of personal communication," he told GMANews.TV. - GMANews.TV