PLDT, Smart Partner with Gov’t to Speed Up Network Rollout in PH**
With connectivity now as vital as electricity and water, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) strengthen collaboration with government and industry partners to accelerate the rollout of digital infrastructure across the Philippines.
In partnership with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), National Electrification Administration (NEA), and tower companies, PLDT and Smart recently hosted a forum at their Mandaluyong office to discuss Executive Order No. 32 (EO 32) and other policies aimed at streamlining network deployment.
ARTA Director General Ernesto V. Perez and PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo G. Jimenez led the discussions, urging both public and private sectors to leverage regulatory reforms to boost connectivity.
“We already have the laws and policies that can empower us to deliver better service,” said Perez. “What we need now is stronger enforcement and collaboration. The time to act is now.”
“Connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” added Jimenez. “EO 32 enables us to act decisively while remaining compliant. We’ll use this framework to enhance the services Filipinos truly need.”
Signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2023, EO 32 streamlines the permitting process for constructing and maintaining telecommunications infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Smart’s VP and Head of Joint Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Atty. Pamela B. Felizarta pointed out that PLDT Group has already ongoing collaboration with ARTA and other agencies that helped foster an innovation-friendly regulatory environment.
“Since 2019, we’ve worked with government and industry partners to encourage innovation, accelerate rollout, and remove unnecessary barriers to service delivery,” Felizarta said.
More than 300 participants joined the event onsite and online, highlighting broad support for unified efforts to improve digital access nationwide.
PLDT and Smart’s continued advocacy for streamlined processes and harmonized regulations reinforces their commitment to digital transformation and inclusive connectivity helping bridge socioeconomic divides and build a more future-ready Philippines.