PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. are boosting partnerships with both government and private sectors to speed up the expansion of their network infrastructure, citing streamlined permitting processes under Executive Order (EO) 32.
“The world has shifted. Today, connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” said PLDT chief operating officer and head of network Menardo Jimenez.
Jimenez said the discussion on EO 32 is “timely, as it empowers us to act decisively while staying compliant with the law.”
Signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2023, EO 32 streamlines the permitting process for the construction, repair and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure.
The private sector’s collaboration with the government is key to accelerating progress, according to Ernesto Perez, director general of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
“We already have the laws and policies that can protect and empower us to deliver better service to our countrymen,” Perez said.
