PLDT Inc. is ramping up efforts to expand internet access in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) across the Philippines, aligning its initiatives with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ‘s connectivity objectives.
At a recent meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), PLDT chief operating officer Menardo ‘Butch’ Jimenez Jr. highlighted the urgent need for policy reforms to bridge the digital divide.
Jimenez, along with PLDT chairman, president, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan emphasized that effective connectivity extends beyond technological advancements and serves as a vital gateway to economic opportunities. “By advocating for legislative measures that support infrastructure expansion, we can stimulate local economies and create opportunities in the very areas that need them the most,” he said.
PLDT and its wireless arm, Smart Communications, Inc., are pushing for several key legislative measures. These include streamlining the permitting processes to expedite the construction of telco towers, ensuring uninterrupted service by energizing existing towers, revising the National Building Code on lease payments of telecommunications facilities, and rationalizing spectrum user fees (SUF).
The PLDT – Smart collaboration and other local telcos at the PSAC Digital Infrastructure Sector forum led by Sabin Aboitiz and Myla Villanueva, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in fostering innovation and growth within the telecommunications landscape.
PLDT’s reform initiatives are in sync with PSAC’s Connectivity Plan, which aims to activate essential GIDA sites this year and roll out up to 1,050 new sites by 2028. The ambitious plan underscores its commitment to enhance digital connectivity and promote inclusive growth across the country.
