Overview

In 2004, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) reported an increased collection of revenues through a more systematic and efficient way of processing licenses, permits and other important documents. Projects that directly served the public such as Customer Care Programs elicited more enthusiastic response from them. The NTC also noted an increased reportage of stolen cellphones and malicious text messaging, which prompted its action for the blocking of numbers and the filing of cases. A total of 22 MCs and guidelines were issued. On the discussion board are two major current trends that have caught the attention of industry players and the public alike: the development of the third generation mobile phone unit (3G) and the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which is projected to cut down the cost of overseas calls by one fourth. Several guidelines issued by the NTC also focused on the development of human resources: the establishment of a Quality Standard System in the training and certification of Marine Radio Personnel (Seafarer) as a Philippine commitment to the International Maritime Organization, and; the Communications Technicians Course to support the Arroyo administration’s program of job creation. The NTC also pushed for the 3-5-year implementation of a computerization program that will upgrade its systems, and make its employees more competitive and better able to handle the onrush of developments in the ICT industries as part of their work in public service. The NTC is also planning to ask the government for fiscal autonomy. While it turns in a revenue or P1.5 — P1.8 billion a year, it gets less than P200 million in allocations. Some of these funds could be used to heighten NTC research, develop human resources, and improve and upgrade infrastructure, all of which are meant to further increase its productivity.