RP retains ITU membership

The Philippines, regarded as the texting capital of the world, has regained its membership in the prestigious International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council during the world body’s ongoing plenipotentiary conference in Antalya, Turkey.

The other council members elected to the 12 seats allotted for Region E (Asia and Australasia) are Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

Most of this year’s council members are incumbents except for the Philippines, UAE and Tanzania.

The Philippine delegation is headed by Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Secretary Ramon Sales, and supported by Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla.

The other members of the delegation are commissioners Ronald Solis and Jorge Sarmiento of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and Commissioner Lorenzo Formoso III of the CICT.

Private sector representatives from Globe Telecom, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Digitel and Broadband Philippines, as well as former NTC commissioner Kathleen Heceta assisted the delegation. — Rainier Allan Ronda