Leading integrated telco PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are backing the City Government of Davao in its Underground Cabling Project, which aims to improve the city’s physical appearance and attract more investors and tourists to the city.
The underground cabling project of the City Government of Davao is under City Ordinance No. 0152-17, Series of 2017, which mandates all telecommunication companies and Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) to convert overhead lines to an underground system.
PLDT and Smart representatives joined city government officials and representatives from DLPC and other telcos in the recent Ceremonial Switch-On at San Pedro St. The project began its implementation in 2018 at C.M. Recto St., City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod.
“In addition to boosting the City Government’s efforts at attracting tourists and investors by eliminating unsightly wires, putting cables underground is also aligned with PLDT and Smart’s initiatives to improve and maintain our network across the country. This also helps make our network safer and more secure. We will continue to support Davao City’s Business Development Plan, as partners in helping improve the lives of Davaoeños,” said Melvin Lacuna, PLDT Davao Zone Head, adding that PLDT and Smart have also been recently recognized by the Davao City LGU for their support for the City’s Business Development activities.
Other streets that would soon become visibly wire-free will be Ponciano, Bonifacio, Pelayo St. and Quirino Avenue. PLDT is also supporting similar initiatives in other cities, such as Baguio, Cebu, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro.
PLDT operates the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure, which was at 1.09 million kilometers as of end-September 2022, including both domestic and international fiber. This fiber infrastructure also supports Smart’s mobile network, which covers about 97% of the population with 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G.
This cable clean-up initiative is aligned with the PLDT Group’s endeavors to anchor initiatives on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) particularly on SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG No. 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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