While it has improved over the years, one of the main reasons why wireless network services in the Philippines are sometimes unreliable is due to the lack of cell sites. Putting one up is not that easy due to a lot of limitations. Now, at least one of those hindrances is gone thanks to the new bill approved by congress.
The House of Representatives has recently approved a bill that will allow telco companies and other information, communications, and technology (ICT) companies to put up cell sites on villages by purchasing or leasing land on said private residential areas.
With House Bill 10388, the government wants to mandate existing and future housing projects to allocate a part of their land for ICT infrastructure and facilities.
The said bill has been approved on third and final reading and a big win for telco companies who have been long battling with homeowners’ associations.
As per the bill, the land area can come from dedicated open spaces within a subdivision or village. This will amend the previous presidential decree that requires 30% of a residential subdivision to be used as parks and for other recreational activities.
Telcos like PLDT are glad to hear such development. As per the company’s CEO, this proposed law will help “ease the roadblocks that telecommunications companies experience” in improving their services as a lot of communities and homeowners’ associations still don’t allow the building of telco infrastructure due to the perceived health risk and aesthetic reasons.
The FDA previously clarified that cell sites are safe and not a health hazard.
Via: Inquirer.net