PLDT has completed a series of agreements with three Tagbanua Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for a submarine cable project intended to provide Palawan with additional network routes.
The telecommunications company signed its latest memorandum of agreement with the Tagbanua Tandulanen ICC in Sibaltan, El Nido. Earlier agreements were signed with the Tagbanua Central ICC in Napsan, Puerto Princesa, and the Tagbanua Calamian ICC in Busuanga.
The agreements cover cultural, social, and environmental safeguards for the implementation of the Palawan Resiliency Submarine Cable Project. PLDT said the infrastructure would add submarine cable routes connecting the province to the rest of the country and improve network resilience.
“We wish to convey our sincere appreciation to our Tagbanua brothers and sisters, as well as the NCIP, for working with us in this initiative. As we continue to endeavor to finish this project without doing harm to the environment, trust that we do not take lightly our role as responsible co-stewards of our natural resources,” said Arvin L. Siena, PLDT vice president for network design and engineering.
PLDT did not disclose the project’s cost, cable capacity, route length, landing points, or target completion date.
“This project is important not only to the barangay, but to the province of Palawan and the country as a whole,” Siena said. “The cables that we are laying here connect Palawan to the rest of the Philippines and the world. They enable families to keep in touch, whether via calls or Facebook Messenger, help students access resources for online learning, and empower businesses to participate in online marketplaces, for example.”
Tagbanua community representative Kamaulangan Nelson Biennes said the groups expect continued coordination as the project moves forward.
“We thank NCIP and PLDT for giving importance to us and our community. Our partnership is important to us, too, and we look forward to working closely with you in the years to come,” Biennes said.
