Globe secures permits to build more cell sites

Globe Telecom Inc. on Friday said its aggressive network expansion has gained traction after it secured permits from local government units (LGUs) in several parts of Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to build towers in a bid to improve its services and mobile connectivity.

In a statement, Globe said it secured permits to build cell sites in Sto. Domingo, Agoo and Vigan in Ilocos Sur, as well as in Sto. Tomas and Batangas City in Batangas. 

In the Visayas, the Ayala-led telco also got the green light to install cell towers in Toledo City, Cebu, while in Mindanao, network rollouts will immediately commence in Butuan City in Agusan Del Norte; Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur; and Cagayan De Oro City in Misamis Oriental.

“We are very grateful for the support being given by these local government units. As we have pointed out many times in the past, Globe is an ally of LGUs, especially during this time of the pandemic, as they look for ways to better serve their constituents in the new normal,” Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for program development, network technical group, said.

“More importantly, our network expansion will only push through as long as our partnership with them continues to remain strong and will be of great benefit to the public in general,” Agustin said.

In his State of the Nation Address last July, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened Globe and Smart Communications that he would find a way to work with Congress to have them out of the industry should they fail to improve services within the year.

In response to Duterte, Globe said it has earmarked $1.2 billion for its capital spending this year, mainly to finance its network and capacity builds.

In a meeting with Duterte, Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu aired the industry’s grievances, blaming LGUs for the difficulties telecommunications companies face in securing permits to build towers or cell sites. 

Malacañang, in response, directed LGUs to act on applications of telecommunication companies to build cell towers within three days. 

With this, Globe said that apart from securing permits, 25 LGUs have removed the need for a Sanggunian Bayan resolution to allow telcos to expand their network in their areas. 

“These include Magalang in Pampanga; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Cabanatuan and Nampicuan in Nueva Ecija; Santa Maria and San Mateo in Bulacan; Cauayan, Luna, Cabatuan and Ilagan in Isabela; San Jose, Tarlac; Sto. Tomas, Cuenca, Lipa, Taal and San Jose in Batangas; Las Pinas; Morong, Baras, Perez, Tanay and Cardona in Rizal; and Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental,” it said.

The Sanggunian Bayan resolution is among the previously mandated 29 permits telcos need to build one single cell site.

Globe said it recognizes the efforts of the LGUs to fast track the issuance of permits and in cutting red tape, leading to significant improvement in giving telcos the go signal to build more cell sites and cell towers for connectivity.

It added that positive developments are also being noted in Bangued, Abra; Dasmarinas, Cavite; and in Cebu City in support of its expansion builds.

The company said it is also optimistic to increase its capacity with the recently signed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 01 s. 2020 or the  “Streamlined guidelines for the issuance of permits, licenses, and certificates for the construction of shared passive telecommunications tower infrastructure.” 

On July 23, the Anti-Red Tape Authority and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) led the signing of Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 01-2020, along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Department of Transportation-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Public Works and Highways.

Under the JMC, the processing time for permits of telco towers has been cut down to approximately 16 days from an average of eight months across national government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs.

The circular also reduced the number of documentary requirements required from 86 to just 35. --KBK, GMA News