Solon pushes for establishment of telco facilities in condos

House Ways and Means Committee Chairperson and Albay Representative Joey Salceda filed a measure amending the Building Code to require condominiums to reserve spaces for telecommunications facilities.

Under House Bill No. 8534, the lawmaker said, “Buildings or structures and property developments shall be provided, as part of mandatory basic requirements, telecommunications/ICT infrastructure in accordance to the relevant technical specifications and requirements defined by the industry and/or latest Philippine electronics codes.”

Salceda pointed out that there were at least 160,000 condominium units in Metro Manila alone, housing nearly a million people––most of whom were working-class families, students, or young professionals in need of fast and reliable internet.

“Telecom services are now as basic as plumbing. That was certainly the case with the pandemic. And that is now the case, with work-from-home arrangements,” he said in a statement.

“High concentrations of people within limited spaces can be taxing on telecommunications services, especially on bandwidth, unless adequate provision is given for telecommunications facilities. Without specific mandates to ensure digital connectivity in such complexes, the ability of internet service providers and other telecommunications service providers to deliver to their clients will be significantly hampered,” he added.

Salceda thus commended President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for issuing Executive Order 32 to streamline the permitting process for the construction of telecommunications and internet infrastructure in the country.

“The expedited tower permitting policy boosted internet speeds between 2020 and 2022 by 140%, while reducing prices by as much as 41%. Rarely do we do something right by way of policy. And it’s an excellent move on the part of PBBM that he saw the wisdom in reviving it,” the congressman said.

Under EO 32, government agencies and local government units will be covered by a set of guidelines for the issuance of permits, licenses, clearances, certifications, and authorizations for the establishment of telecommunications and internet infrastructures.

This will include the construction, installation, repair, operation, and maintenance of Shared Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure; and, erection of poles, installation of aerial and underground cables and facilities, underground fiber ducts, ground terminals, and other transmission telecommunications and internet infrastructure and facilities. — DVM, GMA Integrated News