In line with the massive cleanup drive nationwide, the Philippines’ largest integrated telco PLDT has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the San Juan city local government unit (LGU) to remove dead and idled wires and fix sagging cables, promoting safety and a better environment in affected areas.

The signing event was led by San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, joined by PLDT and telco operators. Pilot sites are located at A. Luna St. corner C. Leyba St. Brgy. Balong Bato, San Juan City.

"We are implementing the programmed preventive maintenance on the barangay level, starting with those having high trouble index and poor line condition," explained PLDT-Smart Network Operations First Vice President Debbie M. Hu.

"Currently, we have completed the inspection of 21 barangays for San Juan. Preventive maintenance activities are also underway," she said.

PLDT’s clean-up drive, which consists of preventive maintenance activities, complies with congressional bills as well as resolutions and ordinances from local government units (LGUs) requiring utility companies to tidy up the country’s streets of sagging cables, tilting poles, and the like.

The cleanup drive in San Juan city is in line with PLDT's massive cleanup drive nationwide which aims to recover copper cables no longer needed as it upgrades customers to fiber.

“We expand the reach and capacity of our fixed and wireless networks across the country amid the challenges brought about by the pandemic, in response to the surge of demand for connectivity and data. We continue to invest in a superior network with better fiber systems and LTE, most recently, 5G.  ​And we are working double-time on our nationwide expansion program, particularly fiber rollout and migration,” said PLDT Chief Revenue Officer and Smart President Alfredo S. Panlilio.

With the migration to fiber, PLDT has committed to remove its idle copper cables and wires that have been left behind, and spruce up the affected streets and barangays to create a more pleasant environment for residents and visitors.

As of December 2020, PLDT’s fiber optic network now has a footprint that reaches 429,000 kilometers, the country’s most extensive digital data infrastructure.

PLDT earlier announced it is prepared to invest between P88 billion and P92 billion in capital expenditures this year, helping deliver superior customer experience.