By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Globe Telecom, Inc. is pressing for a unified national policy governing underground telecommunications conduits, saying a coordinated system could sharply reduce fiber cuts and theft while strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
The proposal, coursed through the Private Sector Advisory Council’s Digital Infrastructure sector, seeks a nationwide framework covering the planning, construction, operation and long-term governance of underground conduit systems.
Globe General Counsel and Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators President Vicente Froilan M. Castelo said a common policy would provide telecommunications companies with clearer rules for deploying and managing shared underground infrastructure.
“A common policy for shared use of underground conduit infrastructure will give the industry a common framework for planning, deployment and long-term management,” Castelo said.
He added that clear governance and uniform national standards could speed up network expansion, strengthen protection against service disruptions and make infrastructure investments more efficient for consumers and the broader digital economy.
Globe said more than 14,000 fiber-cut incidents were recorded in 2025, with connectivity repeatedly disrupted by climate-related disasters as well as accidental and deliberate damage to telecommunications lines.
The company said the problem is aggravated by fragmented implementation among local government units, making a national approach necessary for the development and maintenance of critical digital infrastructure.
Under the proposed framework, national technical standards would be established, a lead government agency would be designated to supervise nationwide deployment, and clear responsibilities would be assigned for maintaining underground digital infrastructure.
The initiative comes as the government moves to implement the Dig Once Policy provided under Section 17 of Republic Act No. 12234, or the Konektadong Pinoy Act.
Globe is also seeking closer coordination between national government agencies and local governments in developing a National Underground Conduits Master Plan.
The plan would establish common technical specifications and a governance structure for the long-term operation and shared use of underground conduit facilities.
Globe said a unified system would help prevent duplication in infrastructure development while providing telecommunications operators with a more consistent environment for network expansion.
The company reported that it has already completed more than 1,500 kilometers of underground fiber facilities, which it said contributed to a significant reduction in fiber-cut incidents in areas where the facilities were deployed.
Globe Senior Vice-President for Service Planning and Engineering Joel R. Agustin underscored the growing importance of telecommunications infrastructure to the country’s economy.
“Digital infrastructure is now as essential as roads infrastructure and power systems,” Agustin said.
He said a unified underground conduit framework could help the Philippines develop networks capable of withstanding disruptions while supporting the country’s expanding digital economy.
Globe said it will continue working with government agencies and industry partners as it pursues investments aimed at making the country’s telecommunications networks more resilient.
ia/xf
