Globe reiterates request to DPWH for cooperation to avoid fiber cut incidents which disrupt telco services

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Telecom services in some parts of Northern Luzon, Mindanao affected by DPWH activities

Globe Telecom reiterates its earlier and continuing request to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for cooperation to minimize, if not totally avoid, fiber cut incidents that often lead to disruption of telecommunication services in view of two separate incidents which caused the loss of Globe mobile services and affected broadband and enterprise circuits in some parts of Northern Luzon and Mindanao last week.

On May 21, a Globe underground fiber was damaged due to DPWH soil testing at Agua Grande, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, thereby, impacting Globe customers in Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Cauayan City, and Tuguegarao.

The following day, some parts of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga Sibugay, Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Zambaoanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental also suffered service interruption after a Globe underground fiber was hit by a backhoe during pile driving activity of DPWH at Butadon Bridge, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

According to Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo:  “The growing incidence of fiber cuts is getting to be a major concern for us and we would like to appeal to DPWH and their contractors to be extra cautious in the execution of their projects to avoid recurrence of accidental cuts and damage to our cable facilities.”

Network disruptions caused by fiber cut incidents adversely impact not only the company’s operations but could also potentially affect delivery of government services including emergency response.  Globe provides access to both 911 and 8888, the government’s emergency and complaint hotline, respectively, as well as inbound and outbound SMS accessibility for 2286 (BATO), a text hotline for the public to directly report incidents to the Philippine National Police.

Globe continues to experience hundreds of cable cuts attributed to road-construction related activities undertaken by DPWH contractors.  Some of these cable incidents have led to major network disruption that affected call, text and internet services of Globe.  These incidents have forced Globe to file criminal and civil cases against the contractors.

Even barring major network disruptions, cable cut incidents cause at the very least poor quality of service delivery to consumers as well as additional repair costs to the company.

DepEd, DPWH to construct 1,500 classrooms with PAGCOR funds Manila

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The Department of Education (DepEd) signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the construction of around 1,500 classrooms worth P2B. 

“Our vision is to be a pillar of national development in investing in education. Over the past years, PAGCOR has made substantial changes to ensure that part of vision is really implemented,” DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said.

Luistro expressed his gratitude to the agencies that continue to help in ensuring that “Filipino students get what they deserve.” He said, “We want to thank PAGCOR for being the biggest and most consistent partner in substantially investing in education, and DPWH for ensuring that school buildings will have building integrity.” 

“Classrooms are the most basic social infrastructure that we should continue to provide all over the country,” DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said. He added that DPWH will deliver their commitment in building classrooms that are safe and beneficial for the students. 

PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. said, “Kami ay nagagalak na kami ay kabahagi kami ng DepEd para sa aming project na “Matuwid na Daan para sa Paaraalan.” Naguiat reiterated PAGCOR’s commitment in the continued delivery of education to the learners. 

He said that PAGCOR believes that the future of the country lies in the youth. “The classrooms we are going to build are for them. Tuluy-tuloy po ang ating pagtulong sa DepEd. Hindi po tayo nagtatapos dito. Makakaasa po kayo na may karagdagan pa ito—either sa school buildings or computers. Let us work together for the dreams of our youth to be realized.” 

The classrooms to be built will be constructed by DPHW in accordance to the “build-back better” design with specific PAGCOR design elements. PAGCOR shall designate certain locations based on DepEd’s data on classroom needs which will be prioritized for the construction of classrooms.

DPWH readies for Holy week, clears road barriers

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Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson ordered Regional and District Offices nationwide to direct contractors with on-going road works to clear the national highways of barriers including idle equipment in anticipation for influx of travellers this Holy Week, a statement said.

Singson earlier directed the activation on April 13 to 19, 2014 of the Department’s “Lakbay Alalay” Motorists Assistance Program in the observance of the 2014 Lenten Season.

Moreover, DPWH field units were instructed to conduct road check including the installation of directional signs, resealing of damaged pavements, and application of thermoplastic pavement markings before the Holy Week.

Singson cited the various on-going road activities at Manila North Road between Carmen, Pangasinan to La Union which will greatly affect vehicular flow for motorists headed to Ilocos and Cordillera Regions.

Major on-going road improvement projects expected to slow down traffic along Manila North Road are the Urdaneta-Binalonan-Pozorrubio-Sison Section and Villasis in Pangasinan; widening works at Km 265 to 269 in La Union; Bantay Section in Ilocos Sur; and on-going construction of Banban and Baruyen Bridges in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

Also, with Baguio City as one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines for local and foreign pilgrims and vacationers, the on-going pavement rehabilitation works at Kennon Road particularly at km 236+500 which is open one lane only and at Km. 238+400 will affect mobility of motorists who are advised to take Marcos Highway.

For land travellers heading south using the Daang Maharlika (Manila South Road), the following projects will slow down movement of Holy Week travellers: on-going road widening works at Tabugon-Sta Elena Section and construction of Labo, Bulala, Cabuluan and Laniton Bridges in Camarines Norte; construction of San Jose Bridge in Pili, Camarines Sur; Bascaran, Cabangan and Oas Diversion Bridges in Albay; and Daang Maharlika improvement project in Sorsogon.

Volumes of vehicle utilizing the Manila North Road and Manila South Road which form part of the Philippine Japan Friendship Highway is usually at its peak during Holy Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

DepEd, DPWH address 2010 backlog in classrooms

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The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) presented 66,813 classrooms to President Benigno S. Aquino III to address the 2010 backlog.

“This is a collaborative work of private organizations and public institutions, showing commitment to quality education for Filipino learners,” Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said at the ceremonial turnover of classrooms at Carmona National High School (CNHS), one of beneficiaries of additional classrooms. He emphasized significant role of the private sector and local government units (LGUs) in delivering the kind of education that every Filipino child deserved.

The education chief expressed his gratitude to the “partners in education” from the private sector, LGUs, and DPWH in fulfilling its promise to the Filipino learners.

“Before, this is just a dream—a seemingly impossible dream—but with the help of our friends from different sectors, both public and private, we are able to carry on our commitment to address 2010 backlog in classroom,” he added.

The classrooms, which range from one-story structures to multi-floor buildings, were constructed using national and local government funds and donations from the private sector. More than 35,000 classrooms were funded by the national budget; 13,189 classrooms built using LGU funds; 14,886 from local donations; 1,215 from foreign donations; and 2,242 from PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) I.

He also thanked President Benigno S. Aquino III for his continuous and unwavering support to the education sector. “Through the support and trust of our President Aquino, we are able to accomplish this.” Continuing commitment to basic education

“The Department of Education will continue to provide basic inputs to address incremental enrolment, regular wear and tear, and senior high school (SHS) requirements,” Luistro said. He added that DepEd shall construct more classrooms in 2014 to prepare for the full implementation of SHS (grades 11 and 12) in 2016.