Sharing is a natural thing. We humans are but product of shared elements. It is not surprising therefore that the urge to impart whatever it is that we have sometimes takes a powerful life of its own.
What better way to start our sharing advocacy than by comparing notes and sharing our thoughts about some of the hottest issues affecting most Filipinos nowadays.
Share your thoughts about the vanishing TELCO loads, about the TEXT SPAMS... Share it in Filipino, in TAGLISH or in straight or broken English...however it is shared it does not matter so long as our ideas and thoughts are communicated and understood among ourselves.
For this specific issue, our objective is to protect our rights as consumers without infringing on the rights of those businessmen in the Telecommunication sector. There are already many advocate groups out there...we intend to add to their voices...perhaps with a difference this time around.
Let us create powerful numbers, eventually creating powerful lobby force where necessary, to protect our rights as consumers. Written and spoken words are good. But you know that sometimes, and perhaps most of the time, the only language understood by those lawmakers in Congress are the language of lobby groups. The lawmaking playing field is actually not level at all.
Yesterday, July 3, I was listening to DZMM with Ted Failon as the anchor. He was talking to that NTC commissioner...hmm... I forgot to jot down his name... But his statement caught me flat footed... He said the NTC cannot go beyond what the law provides in terms of punishing TELCOs for their spamming activities. He said they can fine the TELCOs only up to 200 pesos per violation - that's what the law provides. For more than a decade, we consumers suffered while those businesses prospered.
Evidently, the law protects us consumers up to the certain extent only...In the case of SPAMMING and vanishing load...and even the load expiration, the law protects the businessmen better.
We thought that's unfair. Were it not for that case of Senator Enrile being victimized, we would not have been heard at all.
This is just one of the glaring cases of the law that was crafted along the direction of the lobby interest groups. And what those lobbyists used to speak loudly to be heard by the lawmakers to craft laws in their favor? You guessed correctly - NUMBERS. Hard realities but plain and real numbers...not theatrics, not rallies, not passive advocacies. Provisions of proposed laws (bills) are eventually watered-down depending on the strength of the lobby force (or numbers).
Enough is enough!
We thought it's about time we become proactive in protecting our very own rights. Let's begin sharing our thoughts and ideas how we can create powerful numbers and be able to beat them in their own games.
For after all, those well-protected vested interest groups, they too got their numbers from the consumers like us.
Be counted and be part of this desired change even in our own little ways. Let us share...in whatever way we can.
We sure love to hear your thoughts.
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