Globe Telecom Inc. said over the weekend it has submitted a proposal for a unified national policy on underground conduit infrastructure, a move aimed at eliminating fiber theft and fiber cuts after the telco recorded more than 14,000 fiber cut incidents in 2025.
The proposal, filed under the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure sector, calls for a coordinated national framework to guide the planning, construction, and governance of underground conduit systems across the country.
It seeks to address the fragmented implementation of conduit projects across local government units (LGUs) by establishing national technical standards, designating a lead agency to oversee nationwide deployment, and assigning accountability for the maintenance of digital infrastructure.
Froi Castelo, Globe general counsel and president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), said the proposal is ‘timely’ given the Dig Once Policy under Section 17 of the Konektadong Pinoy Act, or Republic Act 12234.
‘A common policy for shared use of underground conduit infrastructure will give the industry a common framework for planning, deployment and long-term management,’ he said.
‘Clear governance and consistent national standards will accelerate network rollouts, improve resilience to service disruptions and optimize investments that ultimately benefit consumers and the country’s digital economy.’
=Castelo noted that climate-related disasters, as well as accidental and intentional fiber cuts, continue to disrupt connectivity even as the country’s digital economy expands.
Globe reported that it completed more than 1,500 kilometers of underground fiber facilities, which it said contributed to a significant reduction in fiber cut incidents in covered areas.
‘Digital infrastructure is now as essential as roads infrastructure and power systems. A unified underground conduit framework can help the country build networks that are more resilient, and better equipped to support the Philippines’s growing digital economy,’ said Joel Agustin, Globe SVP for service planning and engineering. The proposed policy also encourages closer coordination between national government agencies and LGUs in developing a National Underground Conduits Master Plan, establishing common technical standards, and creating a governance framework for the long-term operation and shared use of underground infrastructure.