Six villages across the country have approved Globe Telecom’s cell site proposals as part of its efforts to improve the mobile experience of its customers, the telecommunications operator said in a statement.
Following positive responses from homeowner associations to Globe’s cell site proposals, the permitting process for the new sites is proceeding for Maria Luisa Subdivision in Cebu; Palmera Hills II in Taytay, Rizal; Meralco Village in Binangonan, Rizal; Pamana Village in Novaliches, Quezon City; Victoria Valley in Antipolo City; and Grand Valley Subdivision in Angono, Rizal.
“We are grateful for the support that we’re generating from homeowners in these villages so we can effectively make good of our commitment to improve mobile service experience of our customers in these areas,” Vincent Tempongko, Globe Director for Site Acquisition and Management, said.
“We are hopeful that other HOAs, such as those in exclusive villages, will provide the same cooperation afforded to us by residents in the subdivisions mentioned,” he added.
Tempongko also cited BF Federation of Homeowner Associations Inc. for expressing its willingness to cooperate and support the telecom firm’s bid to build more cell sites and expand its fiber optic network within the BF community in Parañaque City. BF Federation supervises over 68 HOAs covering up to 18,000 households.
Globe is currently in talks with three exclusive subdivisions to establish additional cell sites within their villages. Some homeowners in San Lorenzo Village, Ayala Alabang and Corinthian Gardens earlier expressed their willingness to cooperate with the company.
The need for additional cell sites in exclusive villages follows growing customer requirement for internet connectivity amid increasing propensity for smartphone use, the company said.
For many years now, Globe has had to deal with permitting difficulties in establishing right-of-way and cell sites in subdivisions related to the company’s initiative of improving the state of internet in the country. Many of these HOAs oppose cell site proposals due to alleged health hazards.
Globe recently filed a civil suit against Betty Aw, a resident of Dasmarinas Village in Makati City, for preventing construction of cell sites that kept the telecommunications operator from improving mobile services within the exclusive subdivision.
Globe emphasized that HOAs’ concerns over health issues are unfounded and without basis, as both the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and the World Health Organization already affirmed that proximity to cell sites does not cause any known health risks.
Globe emphasized that the country needs to build new sites if it wants to overcome signal problems and provide access to internet services.
Currently, the Philippines only has 16,400 sites serving 129.4 million mobile customers, the lowest site density compared to its Asian neighbors.