A public hearing on Draft Resolution No. 620 was held in Marawi City on Thursday, June 30, by the Committee on Transportation and Communications of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority led by BTA Member Eddie Mapag Alih.
PR No. 620, principally authored by Member of Parliament Maisara Dandamun- Latiph, directs the COTC to investigate in aid of legislation the alleged proliferation of the use of illegal repeaters or signal boosters in Marawi City.
A repeater, also known as a signal booster, is a device that works by receiving the signal from cellular towers and amplifying it in the area. Users of illegal repeaters benefit from boosted signal, while others experience poor, interfered, or non-existent mobile signal.
The sale and purchase of such devices is prohibited under NTC Memorandum Order No. 01-02-2013.
Under the memorandum, only CMTS operators, NDRRMC, and other government agencies involved in national security, as well as those authorized by NTC, are permitted to purchase, import, and possess such devices.
In February of this year, the Bangsamoro Telecommunications Commission, along with Globe Telecommunications representatives and the Philippine Army, conducted a number of inspections in the city and demolished a number of illegal boosters, according to BTC Chairman Muhammad Ameen Abbas during a public consultation.
MP Maisara stated that good internet connection is vital in the economic progress of Marawi City and the entire BARMM. It is high time that good internet connection be provided by telecommunication services to the people especially for distance learning as well as digital businesses and financing.
The committee, led by MP Eddie Alih, will invite the regional telecoms providers to their next meeting in July to hear their perspectives on the problems especially on the poor internet connection service.
