Engr. Emmanuel Estrada, Vice President, Globe Telecom, stressed the significance of collaboration between the government and private sector, addressing the evolving digital needs of Filipinos.
Globe Telecom noted its active participation in initiatives, such as the Connectivity Plan Task Force, spearheaded by the Private Sector Advisory Council.
The initiative, comprising mobile network operators, tower companies, and government stakeholders, aims to maximize the capacity of the existing networks by constructing more than 150 new sites and exploring cutting-edge technologies, including satellite services, for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).
Estrada highlighted the significance of government policies in effectively driving PPPs and the need to revise outdated regulations.
These strategies focus on creating transparent, consistent, and stable policy frameworks to attract private sector investment and foster mutually beneficial long-term partnerships.
Estrada accentuated, “The old, antiquated policies are no longer effective and relevant in today’s digital economy. Once that is addressed, let’s streamline all the processes.”
Estrada also noted Globe Telecom’s progress, particularly EO (Executive Order) 32, which has accelerated the company’s network developments over the last three years.
“Those antiquated polices, some dating back to 1931, are the ones that we need to really work on together with the government,” he added.
Globe Telecom reported a 20% improvement in processing permits from 2022 to 2024, thanks to simplified procedures introduced by various local government units. This progress is credited to Executive Order (EO) 32, which streamlined the permitting process for telecommunications infrastructure.
Underscoring the importance of the synergy between technology and valuable real-world applications, Estrada stressed that PPPs must provide innovative solutions to meet the digital needs of the public.
While 96% of the Philippines’s total population is covered by at least 3G or 4G, only 63% have active subscriptions.
The Globe Telecom VP emphasized the importance of enhancing network usability beyond social media platforms, prioritizing applications that add value to areas, including education, healthcare, and finance.
“First, let’s fix connectivity, and once that’s done, let’s improve usability,” Estrada stressed. “It’s one thing to have the connection but us
