It could soon become law for all tourism-oriented businesses in Quezon City to offer their customers free Wi-Fi.
Local councillor Karl Edgar Castelo has drafted a bill which would affect all cafes, restaurants, bars and short-term accommodations in the Philippines city. Industriesnews.net reports that this includes pension houses and lodging houses.
The bill states that all these establishments must invest in a secure wireless internet connection for customers to use for free.
It was suggested that business owners who didn’t comply with this law could face fines and might even lose their permit to operate in the city.
The news highlights how important that an internet connection has become in the eyes of some tourists.
According to inquirer.net, Fifth district councillor Castelo is looking to introduce this law by amending an existing ordinance SP-189 S-94, which was introduced in 1994 and deals with the setting up of tourism related businesses in Quezon City. Any penalties issued as a result of non-conformance would be based on legislation already held within this ordinance, Castelo said.
He explained: “Almost 20 years after the enactment of the said ordinance, consumers, particularly in tourism-oriented and tourism-related establishments, have come to expect free wireless internet connection as a value added service.”
