In 1988 eight corporations, namely the Bank of America, Citibank, CityTrust Banking Corp., Chase Manhattan Bank, Del Monte Philippines, San Miguel Corporation, Pilipinas Shell and Reuters banded together and formed the Telecommunication Users Group of the Philippines, Inc. (TUGP) to promote user interest through a competitive environment in the industry. A year later, membership expanded to twenty members.
 
The TUGP was established with the support of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). The Group became a member of the National Telecommunications Development Committee (NTDC) under Executive Order 69 signed by then President Corazon Aquino.
To realize TUGP’s general objectives of promoting the interest of telecommunication users in the Philippines and working towards the improvement of the industry’s services and facilities, the group engaged in the following activities:

• In cooperation with PLDT and Globe Telecom, conducted a Technical Interchange on Y2K in 1999. This was to help promote awareness of the issue among corporate users
 
• Participated in the National Consultative Forum (NCF) chaired by DOTC. The NCF was established to provide Telecom Industry Stakeholders a venue to discuss and present concerns and issues
  
• Participated in the DOTC/NTC/USAID Telecom Industry Workshop held at the US Embassy Seafront Club last May, 1998. The workshop focused on the drafted Universal Access Benchmarks and the Industry Scorecards, Tariff Re-balancing, Interconnection, Broadband Services and Convergence of Technologies.

The various roles of government agencies and service providers in GMPCS technology were also reviewed

• Participated in the First National Conference of Philippine Information Infrastructure (PII) held last May, 1998 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City
  
• Lobbied in Congress for deregulation of the telecommunications industry and the passage of new laws for the interest of telecom users
 
• Lobbied for competition and local metered service in the industry
  
• Gave inputs of the Implementing Guidelines of Republic Act 7925 (Public Telecommunications Policy Act of 1995)
 
• Agreed with PT&T to pay interest on subscriber investment
  
• Supported Philcom’s application for gateway

With the telecom industry deregulated and opened to competition in the beginning of the 90s, the group has been working closely with the different major players in the industry to help promote better services and products for the consumer. Taking definite stands on issues such Metering and Billing has also given TUGP credibility in the telecom industry.
With specific objectives to directly benefit users, TUGP is highly encouraged by the very positive reception of all the players in the industry.