EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY: 8 out of 10 residents in Central Visayas own cellphones

Local

CELLPHONES have become nearly universal in Central Visayas, with almost eight out of ten residents aged 10 and above now owning one.

The 2024 National Information and Communications Technology Household Survey (NICTHS) shows that smartphones dominate these devices, while prepaid SIM cards remain the top choice for connectivity.

Philippine Statistics Authority Central Visayas (PSA 7) Director Wilma Perante said cellphone ownership in the region rose sharply in the past five years.

In 2019, only 40.8 percent of individuals owned a mobile phone. By 2024, the figure jumped to 79.7 percent.

With an estimated population of 6.67 million aged 10 and above, this translates to around 5.3 million individuals now owning a cellphone .

Perante explained that smartphones have overtaken basic or analog phones as the dominant device.

Of the cellphone-owning population, 92.4 percent use smartphones compared to just 56.5 percent in 2019.

The share of basic phone users dropped significantly over the same period.

This reflects how individuals in the region increasingly rely on multifunctional devices that allow not only calls and text messaging but also internet use, mobile applications, and digital transactions .

The survey further showed that prepaid SIMs remain the overwhelming choice.

In 2024, 96.7 percent of cellphone owners in Central Visayas used prepaid cards, while only 4 percent maintained postpaid subscriptions.

The preference for prepaid reflects the flexibility it offers, as users can control expenses, purchase load in small amounts, and switch networks more easily .

The rollout of the SIM Registration Act also shaped mobile ownership trends.

A majority of individuals with ICT devices and active SIMs, or 84.2 percent, registered using their own information.

Another 11.6 percent used details from relatives, while 4.5 percent used information from friends, employers, or other sources.

Among those who did not register under their own name, the most common reason cited was parental control over children’s SIM cards.

The PSA also found that Central Visayans are spending more to stay connected. Individuals in the region now spend an average of P265.30 per month on load or subscriptions, a P93.46 increase from 2019.

This amount is slightly higher than the national average of P255.51.

Perante said the figures underscore how mobile phones have become a major household expense, comparable to other utilities .

The rise in ownership and spending shows how rapidly Central Visayas has embraced mobile technology.

In just five years, cellphone ownership nearly doubled.

Smartphones, once accessible only to a smaller segment, now dominate and have become the main entry point to internet access.

Prepaid SIMs, meanwhile, continue to define the region’s mobile landscape.

With an estimated 2.08 million households and 6.67 million individuals aged 10 and over, Central Visayas demonstrates how mobile connectivity now plays a central role in communication, learning, commerce, and social life.(MyTVCebu)