Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John E. Uy welcomed the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 32, which streamlined the guidelines for processing permits related to the construction of telecommunications and ICT infrastructure.
Secretary Uy said that the EO will improve the public’s access to reliable connectivity. He also expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for backing initiatives of the DICT that seek to foster inclusion and bridge the digital divide.
President Marcos Jr. issued EO No. 32 on July 5, 2023. The EO expedited the process of applying for permits for the construction, installation, repair, maintenance, and operation of Shared Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure (PTTIs) and the erection of poles and installation of aerial and underground cables, underground fiber ducts, and other passive infrastructures.
The EO stated that no other national or local permit or clearance shall be required in the construction of telecommunications and internet infrastructure except for the following:
- Building Permit issued by the Office of the Building Official;
- Height Clearance Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines;
- Homeowners and other community clearances;
- Clearances from other government agencies, when applicable; and
- Other requirements mandated by the Constitution and existing laws.
Further, all covered applications not acted upon within the prescribed period as provided in existing laws, shall be deemed approved provided that the requirements have been met and the fees have been paid accordingly. Also, one-stop shops for construction permits will be established by local government units to fast-track their ICT infrastructure-building services.
Secretary Uy said that the EO “will be a vital component in ensuring that no Filipino will be left behind in this digital age.” He added that “through the deployment of shared PTTIs and other ICT infrastructure, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, we are supporting our beloved President’s vision of deploying digital connectivity across our islands.”
The EO was a joint recommendation by the Private Sector Advisory Council Digital Infrastructure and the Anti-Red Tape Authority as a significant step towards achieving the President’s promise of universal connectivity.
The EO likewise created a Technical Working Group on Telecommunications and Internet Infrastructure as an oversight body to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the measure. The DICT will lead said TWG, with representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, Anti-Red Tape Authority, and the National Telecommunications Commission, an attached agency of the DICT, as members. The DICT-led TWG on Telecommunications and Infrastructure was also tasked to craft the implementing rules and regulations of the Order within sixty days from its effectivity.
