Globe backs mandatory space for telcos in housing projects

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. is urging Congress to prioritize the legislation of a measure mandating property developers to allocate telco space in their projects.

Globe yesterday announced its support for the refilling of a bill by Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy V mandating developers to set aside telco space for network infrastructure in their housing developments.

Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said the measure would boost the firm’s campaign to expand its reach to as many households as possible.

“We are encouraged by Rep. Dy’s move to refile this bill that is crucial in achieving our goal to connect to as many households as possible to reliable connectivity. This will benefit our people at a time when internet access has become a lifeline,” Cu said.

House Bill 10388, or the Housing Development Digital Connective Act, was passed on third and final reading in the 18th Congress, only falling short of reaching the bicameral level. Dy expects that a refiled version of the measure will hurdle committee deliberations in the incoming Congress.

The bill amends Presidential Decree 957 to include information and communications technology infrastructure in the list of facilities that can be put up in the open spaces of subdivisions.

Under the law, a subdivision project with one hectare or more must be allocated with at least 30 percent of its gross area for open space hosting amenities for recreation.

“This bill requires real estate developers to give space to telcos—to really allow our consumers and people living in communities to benefit from this service,” Dy said.

Victor Consunji, president and CEO of Victor Consunji Development Corp., backed the passage of the measure to allow telco providers put up cell towers in new subdivisions. He also called on his colleagues in the property sector to support Dy’s bill once filed in Congress.

“Think about your buyers and your customers. I’d like to commend all developers already doing this and leading this kind of innovation in their partnerships, (but to) those who are not doing this yet please do it for your customers,” Consunji said.