Globe Telecom Inc. has secured 26 permits for building more cell sites this year from local government units (LGUs) in Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, as part of its drive to boost connectivity throughout the archipelago.
The telco secured permits to build cell sites in Sto. Domingo, Agoo and Vigan in Ilocos Sur as well as in Sto. Tomas and Batangas City in Batangas.
In Visayas, Globe got the green light to install cell towers in Toledo City, Cebu while network rollouts will immediately start 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 of these local government units," remarked Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Development, Network Technical Group.
"Globe is an ally of LGUs, especially during this pandemic, as they look for ways to better serve their constituents in the new normal," he explained.
"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.”
Aside from permits, Globe also welcomed reports that 25 LGUs have removed the need for a Sanggunian Bayan resolution to allow telcos to expand their networks 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 was among the previously mandated 29 permits telcos need to build one single cell site.
Globe lauded the LGUs for fast tracking the issuance of permits and cutting red tape.
The telco also noted positive developments in Bangued, Abra; Dasmarinas, Cavite; and in Cebu City after state regulators issued the streamlined guidelines for the issuance of permits, licenses, and certificates for telecom towers.