Local governments (LGUs) have accelerated the processing of telecommunication companies’ processing that want to build a structure expected to help improve mobile and internet connectivity.
This is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the concerned agencies not to delay the processing of applications, and to telcos to provide better service to the public, at a time when many rely on the internet, especially those with online classes.
“Last week po nung nag-usap tayo, 574 po ung na-approve. Tumaas po ito, naging 1,171 this week. Ibig sabihin po doble. Ang natira na lang po ay 428 applications, puro bago na po ito. Ibig sabihin po complying. Very commendatory po ung Manila LGU under Mayor Isko kasi ginawa nila, one time, lahat talaga po in-approve nila. So no more pending in Manila. I hope other LGUs will follow,” said Interior Sec. Eduardo Año this Monday.
The construction requirements of the Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure (PTTI) have been waived, except for building permits and night clearance permits.
“Automatic na po, pag ma-comply nila ang permit, approved na po, will go on since last month up to the next 3 years. I dont think may reason pa po ang telcos na sabihing nahihirapan sila,” said Año.
Duterte, on the other hand, stressed that the traditional long-term processing of applications leading to corruption should be cut.
Año: LGUs fast track process for telcos
Last week, various LGUs granted Globe Telecom a total of 715 permits to build cell sites nationwide to improve its telecommunication and internet services.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Interior and Local Government, Anti-Red Tape Authority, and other government agencies earlier released the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 01 series of 2020, paved the way for faster issuance of telco permits.
Globe also said it also secured 84 Certificates of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) permits in the last two months.
Its rival, PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm, Smart Communications Inc., managed to secure 661 permits from local government units (LGUs) nationwide to fast track its cell cites building projects for better connectivity services.
PLDT-Smart said that it invested P260 billion from 2015 to 2019 for its nationwide tower rollout.