GLOBE’S aggressive plans to build more cell sites for the rest of the year got its initial big push having secured 26 permits from local government units (LGUs) in several parts of Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas and in Mindanao.
Permits to build cell sites were given in Sto. Domingo, Agoo and Vigan in Ilocos Sur while permits were also secured in Sto. Tomas and Batangas City in Batangas.
In Visayas, Globe likewise got the green light to install cell towers in Toledo City, Cebu while network rollouts will immediately commence in Butuan City in Agusan Del Norte; Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur and Cagayan De Oro City in Misamis Oriental, all in Mindanao.
“We are very grateful for the support being given by these local government units. As we have pointed out many times in the past, Globe is an ally of LGUs, especially during this time of the pandemic, as they look for ways to better serve their constituents in the new normal. More importantly, our network expansion will only push through as long as our partnership with them continues to remain strong and will be of great benefit to the public in general,” Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Development, Network Technical Group, said.
Aside from permits, Globe also welcomes reports that 25 LGUs have removed the need for a Sanggunian Bayan resolution to allow telcos to expand their network in their areas. These include Magalang in Pampanga; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Cabanatuan and Nampicuan in Nueva Ecija; Santa Maria and San Mateo in Bulacan; Cauayan, Luna, Cabatuan and Ilagan in Isabela; San Jose, Tarlac; Sto. Tomas, Cuenca, Lipa, Taal and San Jose in Batangas; Las Pinas; Morong, Baras, Perez, Tanay and Cardona in Rizal; and Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental.
The Sanggunian Bayan resolution is among the previously mandated 29 permits telcos need to build one single cell site.
Globe recognizes the efforts of these LGUs for fast tracking issuance of permits and in cutting red tape, leading to significant improvement in giving telcos the go signal to build more cell sites and cell towers for connectivity.
Aside from the 25 LGUs which are now supporting Globe expansion builds, positive developments are also being noted in Bangued, Abra; Dasmarinas, Cavite; and in Cebu City.
Riding on the momentum of the recently signed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 01 s. 2020 or the “Streamlined guidelines for the issuance of permits, licenses, and certificates for the construction of shared passive telecommunications tower infrastructure” with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Interior and Local Government, Anti-Red Tape Authority and other national government agencies, the company is looking to build its capacity as the country has now pivoted to the new normal. Globe is gearing up to meet the increased demand for connectivity as the internet becomes an essential need of Filipino families, schools, and businesses.
