Telecommunications giants Globe Telecom as well as PLDT and its wireless arm Smart have reached a final agreement with the Provincial Government on the payment of charges for encroaching on Capitol’s premium properties along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City.
Gov. Gwen Garcia met with representatives from Globe, led by external affairs director Patrick Gloria, on Monday, July 17. While PLDT was not represented during the meeting, Sugbo News learned they already adhered to the agreement.
Capitol is expected to sign a memorandum of agreement with the firms in August to formalize the payment of the encroachment charges.
Earlier, PLDT and Globe initially signified their willingness to pay rent starting from the date they began using the province-owned lots. 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.
Aside from telcos, Capitol is also demanding just compensation from entities encroaching on the said lots, including private property owners, the DPWH, and VECO. | Carlo Lorenciana