LGUs immediately approve over 1,000 telco permits for building cell sites

Various local government units (LGUs) have recently approved over 1,000 permit applications from telcos for building cell sites.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año shared with President Duterte during a televised Cabinet meeting that 1,502 out of 1,930 permits submitted to 80 LGUs have been approved. This was after reducing the processing time from 241 days to 16 days, decreasing the number of documents required for getting permits.

As Año stated on a report by the Philippine Star, the department will monitor the remaining pending applications and will make sure its approval. Should the application will be denied, the department will have the right to know.

On his 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Duterte warned that he would close down all telecommunication companies and seize its assets if services won’t improve by December 2020. He specifically called the attention of Globe and PLDT with its poor services.

Apart from welcoming a third telco player, the government also plans to build common telco towers to boost internet connection and add cell sites in the country.

Source: The Philippine Star