Globe said it has encountered numerous permitting issues with homeowners associations (HOAs) mainly due to unfounded health risks and aesthetic reasons.
Local telco group PLDT and Smart Communications has lauded the passage last Dec. 2 of House Bill 10388, which requires subdivisions and housing development projects to allocate an area for cell sites, at the House of Representatives on its third and final reading.
Smart VP and head of regulatory affairs Roy D. Ibay said the prevalence of “arbitrary” regulatory fees imposed by some LGUs such as tower fees, inspection fees, and audit fees continue to be "major roadblocks for ICT growth."
Globe Telecom branded as illegal the recent resolution of Barangay Plainview in Mandaluyong City that prohibits the construction and operation of cell sites within its territorial jurisdiction.
Under the memorandum of agreement, DepEd Cebu will offer its premises free of rent for the cell sites while Globe will furnish DepEd schools in the province with free broadband and WiFi services.
Earlier this month, Makati, Manila, Marikina, Calamba, Tagaytay City and Legazpi in Albay were the first LGUs to set up their one-stop shop for permitting requirements of telcos.
Globe said it was able to build 500 cell towers in 2018. A year later, the company doubled its rollouts with 1,100 new sites. Even with the pandemic this year, the telco said it remains on target to rollout 1,300 sites this year.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formally issued an advisory assuring the public that a thorough evaluation is done to determine the safety of cell site antenna prior to its installation.
Citing the military’s deal with third telco Dito Telecommunity as "foolish", Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she is opposing the Department of Defense (DND)’s proposal for a P500-million cybersecurity budget for 2021.
In a letter addressed to Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) secretary Gregorio Honasan II and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Eduardo Año, PLDT-Smart identified areas currently inaccessible due to Covid-19 community quarantine measures.
