DICT drafting EO to hasten permits for cells sites, faster internet

The Department of Information and Technology is drafting for President Rodrigo Duterte an executive order meant to hasten the processing of permits for the construction of cell sites that will help make internet in the country faster.

In a hearing of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology on the proposal to put up free public Wi-Fi service around the country, DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima said there was no need for emergency powers to address the slow pace of the internet in the country.

"You know it has always been in the pipeline to have national broadband... Do you see any reason that we need emergency powers to be able to roll out our programs for digitization and internet service and also strengthening our cell signals all over the country?" Senator Grace Poe asked Salalima.

"Hindi po naman. I think we can manage with an executive order. And hopefully we can get legislation from Congress," Salalima said.

Salalima said his office was already drafting an EO to speed up the processing of permits for cell sites and other transmission lines.

Currently, there are 15,000 cell sites all over the country, he said.

Poe said that the Senate also have pending bills to fast track the processing of permits for telcos, and make sure the duration of their permits extend beyond the current one-year period, without the hindrance of a local government unit (LGU) regulation.

Poe stressed the need to standardized the fee being demanded by LGUs for the issuance of permits for cell sites.

"This is important because the friction caused of doing business and what we have to pay extra in LGUs is passed on to the consumers," Poe said.

Meanwhile, also during the hearing, the Department of Education said 4,359 of the 8,086 high schools are already connected to the internet. The DepEd added there is currently a program to connect the remaining schools to the web.

Assistant Secretary Dennis Villorente from the Department of Science and Technology, meanwhile said the government's free Wi-Fi project stands to benefit 347 campuses in 117 state colleges and universities. —NB, GMA News