POE: NO EXCUSE FOR TELCOS FOR NOT
SENDING DISASTER TEXT ALERTS

Senator Grace Poe stressed that telecommunications firms have "no excuse" for not sending mobile phone warnings during the past calamities that hit the country.

Poe said case in point was Metro Manila-which has been placed under Signal No. 1 in past two typhoons-where there is good quality of cell phone signals but no text alerts were actually received by many citizens.

"Kung anu-ano ang mga promo na natatanggap natin. Kung kaya naman-wala namang duda na kaya, maaaring dun sa ibang lugar may excuse pa silang sabihin na ang signal ay masama kaya naman pinapalawig natin ang emergency powers kung saka-sakaling makasama yung pagpapatayo ng mas maraming cell sites. Pero dito sa Metro Manila, parang walang excuse na hindi natin matanggap. Ako hindi ko natanggap mismo," said Poe in a radio interview yesterday.

Poe has filed Senate Resolution No. 211 seeking explanation from implementing agencies and telcos on possible lapses even though Republic Act No. 10639 or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act and its implementing rules and regulations are already in place.

"Receiving alerts in times of disasters is very important especially in far-flung areas. This is already spelled out in the law that warnings should be sent by telcos free of charge on the part of the mobile phone subscribers," Poe said.

According to Poe, it is important that telcos include emergency numbers of disaster response agencies such as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Social Welfare department, local governments, the police and the Philippine Red Cross.

"Alam natin na bago pa lang ito, siguro ngayon pa lang talaga nasasanay ang ating mga telcos kaya lang pinapaalala nga natin na kailangan ang text alerts kung magkakaroon ng bagyo. Ang importante diyan kasama sa mga susunod na mga texts ang mga numbers na pwede nilang tawagan kapag sila ay nangailangan ng tulong," the senator added.

Under Section 6 of RA 10639, any person who gives false or misleading data or information or willfully or through gross negligence, conceals or falsifies a material fact, in any investigation, inquiry, study, or other proceeding pursuant to the Act face imprisonment of two months to six months and a fine ranging from P1,000 to P10,000. If the offender is a corporation, the penalties may range from a fine of P1 million to P10 million and/or face suspension or revocation of its legislative franchise and other permits and licenses issued by the NTC.

Mobile phone subscriptions in the Philippines hit 115 million and the country has been consistently cited for mobile phone use, a proof that mobile phones bring better access to communication and engagement to critical information.