The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) joined other agencies in issuing pro-competition guidelines that will streamline the processing of permits and allow infrastructure sharing and help expedite the telco infrastructure rollout in the country.
Recently, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) signed joint memorandum circular (JMC) No. 1 together with PCC and seven other government agencies.
The JMC streamlines the issuance of permits for the erection of poles, construction of underground fiber ducts, and installation of aerial and underground cables. It directs local government units to require only a single excavation permit for a series of projects within their area, and to set up a one-stop shop to process applications. It also removes redundant requirements and limits the processing time to seven working days.
“Cutting red-tape and sharing of essential infrastructure lower the barriers to entry and unlock market efficiencies. The pro-competition features of the JMC will provide relief to millions of subscribers through improved telecommunication services,” said Arsenio Balisacan, PCC chairperson.
The JMC prescribes the sharing of existing poles and other physical infrastructures, and prohibits anti-competitive acts relating to their access. Consistent with competition principles, it requires owners to provide other market players access to such infrastructures on a non-discriminatory basis, and prohibits them from giving preferential access to related firms.
Refusal to grant access should be based on objective, transparent, and proportionate criteria, such as lack of technical suitability and available space.
As one of the oversight agencies, the PCC is tasked to prohibit anti-competitive acts in relation to the JMC, and to adopt rules detailing the procedure for access requests and transparency of information concerning poles and other physical infrastructures.
“To achieve a truly inclusive connectivity for Filipinos, competition should be present in the different aspects of operations in the telecommunications sector. Through the JMC, the increase of market players at the network level is now complemented by the accelerated rollout of infrastructure on the ground,” added Balisacan.
Meanwhile, JMC aims to provide guidelines to streamline the processes and requirements when it comes to application for permits and clearances for the erection of poles, construction of underground fiber ducts, and installation of cables and facilities along national, local, and subdivision roads, including pavements and sidewalks.
This is seen to further expedite the rollout of telecommunication infrastructure and service projects, leading to faster internet connectivity.
