Leading integrated telco PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue to support Davao City’s Underground Cabling Project, which aims to remove unsightly overhead wires and cables from city streets.
In a recent ceremony at Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City, PLDT and Smart representatives joined government officials, representatives of Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) and other telcos, as they signaled the start of the project’s 2nd phase. The project requires DLPC and all telecommunication companies to convert their respective overhead lines to an underground system.
Davao City Administrator Atty. Francis Mark Layog thanked the utility companies for partnering with the city government to realize their goal of wire-free streets. “The underground cabling project is a clear testament of a public and private partnership that is undertaken with the welfare of the citizens in mind. Once completed, the project can boost businesses in Chinatown and further drive our city towards progress and development. Let us all continue to work together on initiatives and efforts towards a cleaner, safer and sustainable Davao City.”
As PLDT continues to deploy its extensive fiber infrastructure all over the country, which was at more than 1.1 million kilometers as of end-June 2023, the Group is also pushing initiatives that improve customer experience and protect its physical assets. Working with other telcos, PLDT is also spearheading the National Telecommunications Security Council, an informal alliance for the mutual protection of telecommunications infrastructure nationwide.
“PLDT and Smart will continue to support this Underground Cable Project of our local government, as we push for a cleaner and more beautiful Davao. This project also helps reduce pilferage of telco facilities, which ultimately leads to service outages. By protecting and fortifying our physical infrastructure, we are able to continue providing the best connectivity to fellow Davaoeños,” said Melvin Lacuna, PLDT Davao Zone Head.
These cable clean-up and asset protection initiatives reinforce the Group’s commitment as one of the founding members under the Digital Infrastructure group of the Government-mandated Private Sector Advisory Council, with programs such as GoDigital Pilipinas aimed at expanding access to digital technologies.
This particular engagement with Davao City is also aligned with PLDT’s aspirational multi-year transformation, with elevating customer experience as one of the key priorities, while helping achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) particularly on SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG No. 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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