QUOTE(Sun.Star Cebu)
THE President of the Internet Cafes Association of Davao (Icad) claimed that the Internet cafe industry in Davao City is affected with the implementation of P4 to P8 per hour rate offered by newly established Internet cafes.
In an interview Monday, Adolfo Solanor, Icad president, said this is one of the challenges the members of the association is facing, adding that there are indeed several Net cafes, which are Icad non-members, that offer a very low hourly rate.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
He said they are not looking at Icad non-members as a bad factor in the industry, saying the industry is already a free enterprise.
Solanor revealed that two years ago, the members and the non-members of the Icad had a meeting and came up with a resolution to offer a uniform hourly rate of P20 per hour.
The agreement, he said, was in accordance with the city ordinance.
"Unfortunately, it was abolished because of many reasons, not everybody followed it kaya naging kanya-kanya na ngayon," Solanor said.
"Dumami rin kasi ang Internet cafes, maraming nag-put up ng business kasi nga it is profitable, but later found out na hindi ganon kadali," he explained.
It was learned that as of last year, Icad has recorded a total of 81 members. There were over 400 Internet cafes existing in the city at present.
"Kung ang hinahabol ng internet cafe ay para dumami ang customer, I think P4 per hour is not even for break even. I do not know how is it and how long they will last, at kung ano'ng diskarte ang ginagawa nila," he said.
He asserted that the same problem was experienced by Internet cafe owners in Cebu. But the problem was addressed after membership to the association was made mandatory.
"Mahirap gawing mandatory ang membership dito kasi marami yang dadaanan," he said.
In an interview Monday, Adolfo Solanor, Icad president, said this is one of the challenges the members of the association is facing, adding that there are indeed several Net cafes, which are Icad non-members, that offer a very low hourly rate.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
He said they are not looking at Icad non-members as a bad factor in the industry, saying the industry is already a free enterprise.
Solanor revealed that two years ago, the members and the non-members of the Icad had a meeting and came up with a resolution to offer a uniform hourly rate of P20 per hour.
The agreement, he said, was in accordance with the city ordinance.
"Unfortunately, it was abolished because of many reasons, not everybody followed it kaya naging kanya-kanya na ngayon," Solanor said.
"Dumami rin kasi ang Internet cafes, maraming nag-put up ng business kasi nga it is profitable, but later found out na hindi ganon kadali," he explained.
It was learned that as of last year, Icad has recorded a total of 81 members. There were over 400 Internet cafes existing in the city at present.
"Kung ang hinahabol ng internet cafe ay para dumami ang customer, I think P4 per hour is not even for break even. I do not know how is it and how long they will last, at kung ano'ng diskarte ang ginagawa nila," he said.
He asserted that the same problem was experienced by Internet cafe owners in Cebu. But the problem was addressed after membership to the association was made mandatory.
"Mahirap gawing mandatory ang membership dito kasi marami yang dadaanan," he said.