DILG told to review approval processes

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to review its memorandum streamlining the approval process for cell site towers issued during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Garcia shared to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla during his first official visit in Cebu last Wednesday that the City’s zoning board has received complaints in line with the construction of cell towers in their barangays.

The complainants cited the lack of consultations or public hearings as among the reasons on their complaints.

The City’s Public Information Office reported that Garcia pointed out while the policy was implemented to accelerate digital infrastructure during the pandemic, its post-pandemic relevance remained uncertain.

 In response, Secretary Remulla said that the memorandum remains in effect to address the country’s lagging telecommunication infrastructures.

Remulla said that Vietnam has 35,000 cell towers for a population of 70 million, while the Philippines only has 14,000 towers for over 100 million people.

Remulla said that the policy implemented is necessary to fast-track development and improve connectivity, as barangay ordinances were seen as a major hindrance to telecommunication companies’ expansion.

 Remulla, however, acknowledged that concerns over proper consultation and transparency in tower construction remained a key issue for local communities.

 With this, Garcia urged the DILG to review the memorandum to ensure a balanced approach that considers both development needs and public concerns.

Back in 2020, then President Rodrigo Duterte directed concerned government agencies to improve digital infrastructure in the country.

The DILG, which was then headed Secretary Eduardo Año, acted on this by taking out some requirements to fast-track the process in securing permits. These requirements include shortening the period of securing permits from six to seven months to less than a month only.

The DILG, along with the Anti-Red Tape Authority and other national government agencies (NGAs), have issued a joint memorandum circular (JMC) streamlining documentary requirements and processing time for building permit applications on shared passive telecommunications tower infrastructure also known as common telecommunications towers.

 Among the requirements taken out are the resolutions from the homeowner’s association, and Sangguniang bayan resolutions.

The JMC was also signed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology; Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD); Department of Public Works and Highways; Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; Department of Health; and Food and Drug Administration, making it a whole-of-government undertaking.

Requirements include though a barangay clearance; documentary requirements for building permit applications on common towers such as Unified Application Form for Locational Permit, Fire Safety Evaluation Certificate, Building Permit, property documents (owners/authorized occupants of Registered/Untitled lands, authorized occupants of registered land), and select ancillary permit and accessory permits requirements.  JG (CEBU NEWS)