ARTA will release certificate of compliance if LGUs sit on telco permits

September 2, 2020

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday told local government units that the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) will  release the certificate of compliance if they continue to sit on the request for construction of telecommunication towers.

During the Laging Handa briefing, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said they spoke top the concerned local government units to make sure that they will follow the joint memorandum circular issued by DILG, ARTA, Department of Transportation and DICT (Department of Information and Communication Technology).

“We also told the LGUs that if they will not release (the permit) within the prescribed period, ARTA will be the one to release the certificate of compliance,” Malaya said.

“It means if all the documents submitted by different telecommunication companies are completed but the LGUs are just sitting on it, the government will not wait for them and will just release the permit,” he added.

Last August 10, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said there were 428 remaining pending applications from the Touch Mobile, Globe Telecommunication, Smart Community, and Dito Telecommunity Corp. - and other small firms, such as Huawei.

It can be recalled that during his fifth State of the Nation Address last month, President Rodrigo Duterte gave the two major telcos - Smart and Globe Telecom - until December to improve their services, otherwise, the government would expropriate them.

But in a meeting with Duterte, a Globe executive said they could not proceed with the construction of their towers because of the many requirements and high fees being collected by the LGUs. The official said Smart could have a similar problem.

This prompted Duterte to order the Department of Interior and Local Government to stop corruption on the part of the LGUs. Ella Dionisio/DMS