Amend Building Code for digital connectivity
August 25, 2023Amend Building Code for digital connectivity
Statement of CitizenWatch Philippines
CitizenWatch Philippines urges legislators to act with urgency on the bill amending the 50-year-old National Building Code of the Philippines. We must enable our spaces to be responsive to the digital economy by treating connectivity as a basic utility like power, water, and sanitation.
Communication and digital connectivity are a basic human right that plays a critical role in our nation’s transformation to a digitally enabled and competitive country. Thus, residential and commercial spaces need to have provisions to connect with digital infrastructure. Our Building Code needs to be updated — and at the soonest possible time.
Developers of residential and commercial properties, both horizontal and vertical, need to understand their responsibility in providing connectivity as early as the project inception phase.
Unfortunately, the original plans of some communities and high-rise buildings that are under development do not even contain such provisions the way they do for water or power. They are not able to provide necessary interaction and even space allocation for the delivery of basic telecommunication services.
This is not acceptable in this information age.
Moving forward, the demand for telecommunication facilities can only increase especially after the pandemic-driven lockdowns forced many to find ways to remain connected for school, work, and even everyday personal transactions. It is also crucial during disasters, when preparation, rescue, and rehabilitation work hinges on connectivity.
A bill introducing amendments to the Code has been introduced at the House of Representatives but some improvements can still be made on the proposal. When finally enacted, the amended Building Code – which primarily lists telecommunication and ICT infrastructure as requirements to obtain a building permit — will ensure that developers will integrate connectivity prior to occupancy.
Our policy leaders must be guided by the principle that digital connectivity as a basic human right should inspire the development of real properties that are digital ready for a tech-driven society.
Atty. Tim Abejo
Co-convenor