Palace tells LGUs to act on telco permits within 3 days

Malacañang on Monday directed local government units to act on applications of telecommunication companies to build cell towers within three days.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday told prosecutors to file charges against local officials who fail to release the necessary papers requested within a certain timeframe

“Panawagan po sa lahat ng mga konseho sa buong Pilipinas kung kayo naman po ay hindi kasama sa MECQ [modified enhanced community quarantine], kinakailangan po aktuhan lahat ng mga application ng telecoms company at iba pang mga kumpanya within three days dahil mayroon naman po tayong batas diyan iyong Anti- Red Tape law,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

“Naiintindihan niya na isa sa problema ay iyong tagal ng pagbibigay ng mga permits para makatayo sila ng mga towers. Dahil may mga pagkakataon kinakailangan ng resolution galing sa mga councils, municipal and city na hindi dumarating.”

In his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, Duterte threatened to shut down dominant telecommunications firms Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. if they failed to improve their services by December.

In response, Globe said it will heed the order, as it noted that it has earmarked $1.2 billion for its capital expenditure this year alone.

Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu later in the week explained to Duterte the difficulties telecommunications companies face in securing permits to build cell sites.

Cu said that securing 25 to 29 permits to build one telecommunications tower takes about eight months.

Duterte then ordered his Cabinet to employ the “most drastic measure you can find” to shorten the process for putting up cellular towers. —LDF, GMA News