Thousands of previously unconnected barangays across the country will soon have internet coverage, enabling livelihood, education, digitalized delivery of public service, among other benefits of connectivity. Leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc (PLDT) is intensifying its efforts to expand connectivity nationwide, including geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) through strategic coordination with key government agencies.
In close coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), among other agencies, PLDT aims to accelerate network deployment across the country, ensuring inclusive access to reliable connectivity to support online learning, enhance the delivery of government services and enable businesses of all sizes to participate in the digital economy.
“Strategic collaboration with government allows us to overcome long-standing challenges in infrastructure deployment. When public and private sectors work in sync, we can speed up connectivity rollouts and ensure that even the most remote areas benefit from the country’s digital transformation,” said Roderick S. Santiago, Head of Network Strategy and Architecture at PLDT and Smart.
These latest efforts build on PLDT’s longstanding work with the government to remove barriers to network rollout. The Group has been an active partner of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and a leading voice in the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), consistently championing regulatory reforms for inclusive connectivity.
Since 2019, PLDT and Smart have worked closely with ARTA, DILG, DICT, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), LGUs, and industry stakeholders to streamline telco-related permitting nationwide. This collaboration paved the way for the issuance of Executive Order No. 32 which was signed by the President in 2023, which institutionalized streamlined processes for the construction, installation, repair, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications and internet infrastructure.
Through sustained investments in network expansion and enhancement, PLDT and Smart are bridging the digital divide and empowering communities in remote and underserved areas to participate fully in an increasingly connected society.
As PLDT and Smart ramp up partnerships with key government bodies, they remain focused on long-term reforms that can institutionalize faster, more inclusive, and future-proof connectivity for all Filipinos.
