CITIZENWATCH Philippines on Thursday said local government units (LGUs) and electric cooperatives across the country should eliminate the barriers to broadband connectivity, stressing that the obstructions deprive them of their tangible economic benefits.
Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, pointed out that the problem is neither technology nor even a capital issue but more of a bureaucratic bane. “It is something we can address swiftly and effectively with enough political will and commitment,” Abejo said.
Although the national government and the private sector have been exerting efforts to streamline bureaucratic processes, Abejo urged the implementers at the grassroots level to double their efforts to translate policy to actual reality.
“There have been laudable developments in terms of crafting policies that specifically encourage the establishment of telco infrastructure,” Abejo said. “But apparently there are still administrative blocks at the site level that are delaying the powering up of telco towers.”
According to Abejo, LGUs have the discretion to adopt streamlined processes for establishing telco towers and other infrastructure in their area. Meanwhile, the electrification of telco towers already in place hinges on the efficiency of electric cooperatives to deliver power to them.
“You can have all the equipment in place, but if they are not electrified, they might as well be white elephants,” Abejo said.
In a workshop conducted by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) with the country’s telco players held recently in Taguig City, the participants said non-standardized processes, delays, confusion in obtaining permits, resource shortages, inflexible timelines and inconsistent fees as some of the challenges to the energization process of telco towers.
Further, representatives from the telecommunications industry and tower companies in a recent workshop agreed that improving coordination, standardizing requirements, and reducing delays are crucial for streamlining the process and accelerating the expansion of the country’s digital infrastructure.
“We hope the President will soon sign the Executive Order on Telecommunications Infrastructure Development to institutionalize the fast processing of permits and licenses relevant to digital infrastructure projects,” Abejo said.
The EO will, among others, spell out the guidelines governing the establishment of telecommunication towers and other Internet infrastructure, based on initial gains realized from two Joint Memorandum Circulars (JMC) issued in 2020 and 2021 but will expire by the end of next month.
He said the two JMCs have enabled the country to achieve substantial progress in the past years. “We were able to significantly cut down the number of documentary requirements, number of permits needed, and the processing time for the applications,” he said.
Broadband connectivity for all
Abejo said a comprehensive digitalization program would bring inclusivity in the country.
“A nation cannot be truly empowered if the opportunities and advantages are concentrated on one area, sector, or group of people,” Abejo said.
Moreover, he urged the Marcos administration to pursue partnership with the private sector from the national to the local levels in its digitalization program to hasten its economic rebound. -30-