Globe Telecom is calling
for the amendment of the Local Government Code to expedite issuance of all
relevant permits for all telecommunication facilities at the local level.
According to Globe
Chief Information & Technology Officer Gil Genio, bureaucratic red tape
causes significant delay in securing various permits from the local government
units concerned relating to the construction of telco infrastructure such as
cell sites.
“We have repeatedly
emphasized that there is no substitute for government support in developing
telco infrastructure in the country. We need the government to prioritize and
enable the sector to undertake infrastructure builds, not just in the construction
of cell sites but also in establishing underground facilities and in
facilitating pole attachments,” Genio said.
He reiterated there
aren’t enough cell sites to enable telco operators such as Globe to
sufficiently support mobile data growth in the country especially amid clamor
for faster internet service. Based on the latest report of TowerXchange, the
Philippines only has around 16,300 towers compared with Vietnam’s 70,000
towers. According to him, it takes at least 8 months to complete the approval
process for the construction of one cell site, involving at least 25 permits.
In addition to bureaucratic red tape, the absence of standard fees among local
government units also breeds corruption. For instance, tower fees range between
P5,000-P200,000 depending on the LGU concerned, he disclosed.
Aside from permitting
issues at the local level, uncooperative villages or subdivisions also prevent
telco providers from aggressively rolling out telecommunication facilities,
Genio said. Close to 30 villages and subdivisions have rejected cell site
proposals made by Globe, effectively preventing the company from proceeding
with its infrastructure builds. Approval from concerned homeowner associations
(HOA) is one of the 25 permits that telecommunication providers need to secure
for the construction of one cell site.
According to Genio,
most of the villages that have rejected the company’s cell site proposal due to
alleged health risks associated with cell site towers. Some of these villages
include Forbes Park, Magallanes Village, and Belair Village in Makati,
Greenmeadows Village, La Vista, and Greenhills North in Quezon City.
He emphasized, however,
that all Globe cell sites have been issued radiation-safety certificates by the
Department of Health, proof that radio frequency signals coming from such
facilities do not pose any adverse health impact. “At Globe, we ensure that all
our facilities adhere to global health standards. The radiation-safety
certificates should allay concerns over alleged health hazard that some HOAs
are concerned about, he said.
Other villages or
subdivisions that rejected the company’s cell site proposal include TS Cruz
Subdivision, Fruitville, BF Executive Homes Village, JEE Village, all in Las
Pinas City; BF Homes, Merville, South Bay
Garden Village all in Paranaque City; Vista Verde in Tanay, Rizal; Concepcion
Village, Modesta Village, Loyola Grand Villas, Jaybee Village, St. Mary’s
Subdivision, Vista Real Classica Subdivision, and Meteor Homes in Marikina
City; Vista Verde Subdivision in Cainta, Rizal; Valle Verde 1 in Pasig; Kings
Vill Executive Village in Antipolo, Rizal; Smile CitiHomes Condominium in
Quezon City; Thomas Home in Valenzuela City; and Vista Rio Village in Cardona,
Rizal.
Currently, Globe has a
backlog of 3,000 cell sites amid varying degrees of permitting issues despite
aggressive efforts by the company to investment in network facilities. Globe
spends close to 30% of its revenues, significantly higher than capital expenses
by other operators in the Asian region to fast track improvements on the state
of internet in the country. (PR)
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