PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. said they are supporting the government’s digitalization efforts by working with key agencies to remove barriers to infrastructure development and improve nationwide access to digital services.
PLDT and Smart said they are deepening their collaboration with government stakeholders, particularly the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for more efficient public service delivery through digital transformation, highlighted in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA),
PLDT representatives met with ARTA to discuss policy reforms aimed at streamlining permitting and addressing regulatory bottlenecks to accelerate network rollout, especially in underserved areas.
These efforts also reflect the group’s active participation in the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), where it champions regulatory reforms to hasten the expansion of digital connectivity across the country, including geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
“We at PLDT believe that meaningful collaboration with agencies like ARTA is crucial to breaking down long-standing barriers to connectivity,” said Butch Jimenez, PLDT chief operating officer and company representative to the PSAC.
“By working together to advance clear, enabling policies, we can fast-track digital infrastructure rollout, particularly in GIDAs and underserved communities, and ensure more Filipinos benefit from the country’s digital transformation,” he said.
ARTA Undersecretary Gerald Divinagracia said public-private collaboration plays a vital role in advancing digital infrastructure as the backbone of good governance and inclusive economic growth.
“PLDT has been at the forefront of working with the government on these critical reforms. Our close partnership reflects a shared commitment to eliminating red tape and driving digital transformation across sectors,” he said.
Among the key initiatives discussed is the proposed amendment to the National Building Code to institutionalize a zero lease rate policy for telecommunications infrastructure in government facilities. PLDT is also engaging with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Association of Building Officials (PABO), which has long advocated for similar changes.
PLDT said it is also coordinating with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to push for the standardization of fees imposed by electric cooperatives (ECs) and to gather feedback from mobile network operators and independent tower companies on energization processes.
The group is leading industry efforts to address concerns over inconsistent and excessive EC charges, which continue to hinder telecommunications infrastructure deployment.
These efforts build on PLDT’s longstanding partnership with the government to advance policy reforms that support faster and more inclusive connectivity.
Since 2019, PLDT and Smart have worked closely with ARTA, DICT, the National Telecommunications Commission, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, local government units (LGUs), and industry stakeholders to streamline telco-related permitting nationwide.
PLDT also played a key role in crafting Executive Order No. 32, issued by President Marcos in 2023, which streamlines the permitting process for the construction, installation, repair, operation and maintenance of telecommunications and internet infrastructure.
