Daily Tribune
A peaceful transition in the nation’s premier communications arm turned out to be more than just a routine transfer of responsibilities, as the new official came out with guns blazing, firing off quotes left and right that were too hot to handle.
In a bid to combat fake news and disinformation, the administration’s new stance may have come too late though, given that it is already halfway through its term. However, new problems demand modern solutions, as the looming “word war” between the past and the present administrations calls for a stronger, more powerful response capable of tackling issues both big and small.
In the beginning, a quieter, more reserved administration dismissed the accusations, maintaining what seemed like a “state of denial” messaging — until late December last year, when the Big Boss pledged to be more open and engage in “less structured” interactions.
The image rebuilding was seen earlier this month when he conducted his first monthly press briefing.
While he insisted on not having a mouthpiece, this new official’s approach leaves a lasting impression.
A perfect counterpart of previous communication figures in the country’s seat of power.
The total number of telco subscribers has far exceeded the population, meaning many Filipinos own more than one device.
There were around 135.5-million mobile phone users as of year-end 2024, up 9.4 percent from the year before. In contrast, the current population is about 117 million.
The persistent growth in the mobile market despite macroeconomic headwinds underpins optimism in the sector, as mobile subscriber and revenue growth is expected to persist as smartphone affordability increases mobile data penetration.
The last quarter of 2024 was marked by a weak peso, which topped 59 per US dollar, and six consecutive typhoons between late October and mid-November, which led to an uptick in headline inflation numbers.
As a result, Filipino consumers cut unnecessary expenses to provide leeway for essentials needs, as evidenced by the weaker-than-expected consumer spending for the quarter.
Still, the smartphone market ended the year higher by +6 percent year-on-year with sales of 17.9 million units, according to an International Data Corp. report.
The availability of more entry-level models resulted in the pick-up in sales, with half of the smartphones shipped to the Philippines priced under $100. This led to the decline the smartphone’s average unit cost to $179 in 2024 from $192 in 2023.
