1.5K permits to build telco towers OK’d in 16 days: DILG

Año said unnecessary delays in the issuance of permits has been the source of corruption that hampered the construction of cell towers. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – A total of 1,502 out of 1,930 applications for permits to build cell towers filed by telecommunications companies have been approved by 80 local government units (LGUs), Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Monday.

In a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Año noted that the application process had already been shortened to 16 days with only eight required permits.

“Dahil sa lumang sistema, 241 days, 19 permits at saka 86 document requirements. Ngayon po sa ating bagong sistema po na ipinapapatupad ninyo, 16 na araw na lang, 16 days, at walong permit na lang po ang kailangan, requiring 35 documents (In the old system, we have 241 days, 19 permits and 86 documents to submit for requirement. With the new system applied now we have 16 days, eight permits needed and 35 documents are required),” he explained.

He said Touch Mobile and Globe Telecommunication, Smart Communications, ang Dito Telecommunity Corporation applied to build their respective towers.

With 428 applications still pending, Año assured that strict monitoring will be done to ensure that no unnecessary delays will occur.

“Sa susunod na linggo, babantayan namin ang mga pending na ito at sisiguraduhin na dapat maaprubahan at kung hindi naman, dapat malaman kung bakit hindi (Next week, we will be closely monitoring the pending applications to ensure their approval and if not, we should be informed why is this so),” Año said.

Año said unnecessary delays in the issuance of permits has been the source of corruption that hampered the construction of cell towers.

Duterte said he would run after local government officials who purposely delay the process of putting up cell towers, which are expected to improve cellular and internet service.

“Ngayon, ‘yung mga nahuli talagang magdusa kayo. Sinabi ko sa iyo (Now, those who are caught, you will suffer). I told you I have never been serious as I can ever be in my life, ‘wag kayo magkamali talaga. Hahabulin ko kayo hanggang preso (don’t try to make any mistake. I will run after you until you end up in jail),” he said.

He added that graft and corruption charges would be filed against local government officials if proven that they are involved in anomalies.

“Huminto kayo at ‘wag niyo pahirapan ang Pilipino, not the government (Stop what you’re doing and don’t give Filipinos a hard time),” he said.

Duterte earlier urged his Cabinet to employ “drastic” measures to shorten the process of securing permits for building telecommunication company cellular towers.

In his fifth state-of-the-nation address on July 27, the President called on Globe and Smart Communications Inc., the wireless arm of PLDT Inc., to improve their services by December.