PLDT, Globe welcome Duterte’s move to cut red tape

MANILA, Philippines - Telco players PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. welcome the new administration’s commitment to improve the business environment by cutting red tape as this would enable them to deliver improved internet services. 

“At this point, the specifics of this major initiative have still to be worked out. But we are hopeful that this will help us expedite our network rollout by simplifying and facilitating the issuance of permits and clearances,” Ramon Isberto, PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. public affairs head, said in a text message. 

He said the simplified issuance of permits and clearances for deployment of the necessary infrastructure would be a win-win situation because faster rollout means communities and businesses would benefit faster from improved connectivity. 

Globe also welcomed the new administration’s commitment to improve government services by reducing bureaucratic red tape. 

The Ayala-led telco is optimistic the new administration’s efforts would lead to the standardization of local government units (LGU) permits and fast track the approval process of securing permits to build cell sites and right-of-way.

“We are optimistic that the policy direction made by President Duterte will be immediately implemented  and thus shorten the permitting process for cell sites and right-of-way,” Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo said.

Globe has been pushing for the reduction of the number of permits necessary to build cell sites. 

At present, there are 25 permits needed to build cell sites with the process taking at least eight months. 

“Our commitment to the Duterte administration is to improve internet services in one year.  We can do this if we have the full support of the LGUs and other government agencies in fast-tracking the permits in our rollout,” Castelo said.