Telecommunications giants Globe Telecom and PLDT have signified to pay charges for encroaching premium properties along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City owned by Capitol.
The Cebu Provincial government has demanded utility companies “illegally” occupying its premium properties along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City to pay rent starting from the date they began using the province-owned lots.
Patrick Gloria, external affairs director at Globe and Erwin Rubi, operations head at PLDT expressed their assurance to Gov. Gwen Garcia during a meeting on Wednesday, May 10.
Both companies were already notified on how much they would be paying to Capitol.
The governor has already ordered the legal office to prepare the memorandum of agreement on the payment of their rent.
Once they would have paid their obligations, the Provincial Government is expected to rake in revenues from these rental fees.
Both telco firms had used Capitol lots for 18 years, from 1996 until 2014, when they made their 600-meter cable lines hang from at least 15 VECO posts along the length of Osmeña Blvd.
Today, Globe and PLDT no longer have utility boxes and communication lines along Osmeña Blvd.
They said they relocated these when, in 2014, the Cebu City Government passed an ordinance ordering utility lines to be buried underground for aesthetic purposes and for public safety and convenience.
Aside from telcos, Capitol is also demanding the same just compensation from entities encroaching on the said lots, including private property owners, the DPWH, and VECO. | Carlo Lorenciana