In Metro Manila and Rizal, Globe said it is set to build at least 319 cell sites while in North Luzon at least 100 sites are in the pipeline with Bulacan, Pampanga, and Pangasinan topping the 15 provinces with the most builds.
The issuance of 34 building permits by the government this brings to 211 the total number of building and preconstruction permits issued by the government to Smart since the Anti-Red Tape Authority issued its Joint Memorandum Circular in August.
The newly-signed “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” contains a provision which temporarily suspends most permits for the installation and operation of cell towers in the country within the next three years.
The installation of the cell site is also expected to benefit the provincial government’s distance learning program for its senior high school students.
From the 17,000 celll towers reported in February 2019 to the 23,230 towers by 2020, there is an increase of more than 6,000 towers mostly deployed by telcos.
A bicameral conference committee has adopted proposal introduced by Sen. Franklin Drilon to suspend certain permits for three years, except the building permit, during the panel's first meeting on Friday, Aug. 14, to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions of the proposed Bayanihan 2.
Sen. Grace Poe expects the telecommunications companies to fast-track the construction of cell sites across the country with the whole-of-government support and streamlining of permitting processes.
For the longest time, Globe said the telco industry’s bid to expand and put up needed broadband infrastructures have been slowed down -- if not totally prevented -- by permitting requirements imposed by LGUs as well as the opposition by hostile homeowners associations.
Sen. Grace Poe has asked government regulators and telcos to reconcile their inconsistent data on the number of cell towers in order to have a clear basis for ramping up efforts to boost connectivity in the country.
