Approval seen for draft EO expediting cell site permits

IT IS now up to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to approve the draft executive order (EO) submitted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology ( DICT) last week that will cut the permit process for building telecommunication infrastructure.

The newly-created DICT earlier submitted a draft EO requiring local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies to expedite the processing of permits and licenses for putting up telecommunication and broadcast facilities to cut the red tape in the construction of much-needed telco infrastructure.

“The EO was submitted if not Monday, or Tuesday of [last] week,” DICT Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima told

BusinessWorld in a chance interview. “This is the EO mandating or requiring the LGUs and other government agencies to expedite the issuance of permits, we call it seven plus two, or a total of nine days, if they do not act on applications, then the permit or license to install or operate telecommunications or public services is deemed approved,” Mr. Salalima added.

Telecommunication companies have been urging the government to rationalize the permit process for putting up telecommunications infrastructure — cell sites in particular — saying the process takes around eight months for at least 25 permits to build one cell site, leading to “considerable delay” in the deployment of telecommunication networks.

The DICT had said that the country needs more cell sites to improve internet connectivity.

Mr. Salalima said that the country has only around 16,000 cell sites compared to its neighbors like Vietnam which has 70,000 cell sites and Malaysia with 85,000.

Under the draft EO, the DICT said all applications or renewal of business permits and licenses to install and operate public services such as telecommunications and broadcast facilities, value added services, and cable TV shall be completed and issued not more than seven days from the receipt of said applications.

It noted that the decision granting or denying such application or renewal shall be in writing directly prepared by the officer concerned, stating clearly and distinctly the grounds for its approval or denial, signed by him and issued within the seven-day period.

“If on the seventh day the decision granting or denying the application/ renewal is not completed and issued, the officer concerned shall immediately elevate the matter to the Local Chief Executive explaining in writing the reason(s) for the delay. The Local Chief Executive has two days within which to decide on whether to grant or deny the application/renewal,” the draft proposal said.

The DICT noted that if the local chief executive fails to act within the period of two days, such application/renewal shall be “deemed granted.”

Meanwhile, asked about the chances that the draft EO will be approved by the President, Mr. Salalima said: “He will issue it. That’s what he wants.”

DICT earlier said that in its proposal, it will also be pushing for the streamlining of fees for putting up telecommunications infrastructure.

Both PLDT, Inc., parent firm of Smart Communications, Inc., and Globe Telecom, Inc. earlier welcomed the draft EO which they believe will make it easier for telco providers to deploy infrastructure faster and eventually deliver better services.

Once approved by the President, the EO will be incorporated in the Citizen’s Charter of all Local Government Units (LGUs) in accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations. —