TELECOM and internet service providers in the country on Thursday, July 6, 2023, lauded the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 32, s. 2023, streamlining the process of obtaining government permits for the construction of telecommunications and internet infrastructure, saying it will speed up the country’s digitalization and encourage transparency and efficiency across government agencies involved in the process.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order signed on July 5, is seen to pave the way for greater digital transformation in the country, according to Globe Group president and chief executive officer Ernest Cu in a statement.
EO 32 mandates streamlined guidelines in obtaining permits to build information and communications technology infrastructure, eliminating redundant processes.
Red tape
Cu said cutting red tape fosters an environment conducive to rapid digital infrastructure development.
“This will help accelerate the country’s digital transformation and open doors for more opportunities to Filipinos in the areas of education, employment and innovation,” said Cu.
PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. president and chief executive officer Alfredo Panlilio stressed the need to address the bottlenecks in the permitting, licensing and authorizations involved in the energization of telecommunications towers in the Philippines, and to improve connectivity in far-flung areas.
He said the EO will allow them to “ensure the highest possible quality of service for all Filipinos, and consequently support the government’s digitalization efforts.”
Empowered
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. founder and chief executive officer Dennis Uy in his Facebook post said the presidential directive is “aligned with the private sector’s push for the creation of policies and programs promoting the development of digital infrastructure and services.”
“We believe EO 32 will empower us in further improving our facilities and allow us to respond to our customers faster,” said Uy.
Cu said the order has long-term implications. He noted that by setting up a one-stop shop for construction permits and implementing a zero backlog policy, the EO encourages transparency and efficiency across all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) involved in the process.
“This EO isn’t just about expediting processes. It’s about setting the stage for a long-term, sustainable digital transformation in the Philippines. It fosters a more inclusive and competitive business environment, spurring innovation that ultimately benefits Filipinos,” Cu said.
Cu, a member of Marcos’ Private Sector Advisory Council, said the industry has renewed its call to the government to institutionalize the joint memorandum circular (JMC) of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta).
The JMC, set to expire in September, calls for the adoption of simplified requirements and procedures that will reduce red tape and expedite business and non-business-related transactions in government.
Cu earlier said the Arta’s efforts to improve and streamline the permitting process paved the way for the completion of close to 4,500 Globe cell sites between 2020 and 2022, twice as fast as network builds from 2017 to 2019 and more efficiently than in previous years.
Cu said the EO will guarantee that LGUs will avoid imposing burdensome permit requirements, which has been the case in the past, and allow the mobile network operators and tower companies to roll out the network more efficiently and deliver connectivity more effectively to the Filipino people.
5G network
Local telco players are currently expanding their 5G footprint across the country.
Globe launched 66 new 5G sites across 74 cities and towns in the Philippines in the first quarter of the year. This brings its 5G outdoor coverage to 97.21 percent in the National Capital Region and 90.28 percent in key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. This expansion has enabled Globe to log 4.3 million devices on its 5G network in March 2023.
Globe’s 5G is already present in Cebu City, Minglanilla, Talisay, Mandaue, Liloan, Lapu-Lapu (Opon), Cordova and Consolacion.
As for rival Smart, as of end-March 2023, its 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G network covers 97 percent of the country’s population.
Smart’s 5G mobile network is now available in 4,400 sites nationwide. In Cebu, Smart’s 5G network is available in almost all cities and towns of the province.
Cutting down permits
EO 32 simplifies guidelines for the issuance of permits, licenses and certificates for 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.
It is aimed at ensuring the continuous development of the country’s digital infrastructure.
According to the EO, “no other national or local permit or clearance shall be required in the construction, installation, repair, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications and Internet infrastructure,” except for the building permit issued by the Office of the Building Official; Height Clearance Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap), except when the proposed structure is outside Caap Critical Areas and below 50 meters in height above the elevation of the ground; homeowners associations and other community clearances; clearances from other government agencies, when applicable; and other requirements as mandated by the Constitution and existing laws.
Zero backlog
The order also directs cities and municipalities to set up a one-stop shop for construction permits, for applicants securing building permits and other related certificates.
It also organizes a Technical Working Group on Telecommunications and Internet Infrastructure as an oversight body to ensure efficient implementation of the order.
All covered government units are enjoined to implement the zero backlog policy in all applications for permits and clearances covered by EO 32, which also requires them to annually submit their list of pending applications and compliance to the Anti-Red Tape Authority. (SunStar Philippines)