Globe has enhanced its collaboration with government agencies to prevent more internet service disruptions in Cagayan De Oro due to fiber cables that were cut during roadworks.
In a statement, Globe reported 54 inadvertent fiber cuts due to diggings and other roadworks in Cagayan de Oro City in 2024, the most in all of Northern Mindanao.
From January to March this year, Globe has monitored 14 fiber cuts in CDO so far.
An interagency task force was formed to ensure that fiber cables are not damaged in diggings and other road repairs. The task force includes National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the CDO city government.
“We are grateful to our partners for the smooth collaboration towards our shared goal of protecting our fiber infrastructure,” Globe Head of Service Planning and Engineering Joel Agustin said.
“With connectivity now a basic necessity, we must work together towards preventing downtimes caused by factors outside the scope of telco providers,” he added.
CDO City Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy, who heads the task force, lamented that the internet service disruptions affected the local economy.
“These incidents cause disruptions that affect households and businesses. And with many government and commercial transactions and processes now online, fiber cuts also impact the delivery of public services and take a toll on the local economy,” Uy said.
NTC Region 10 director Teodoro Buenavista Jr. said the task force could serve as a model that other local governments may replicate to address similar problems.
“These unintentional yet highly disruptive fiber cuts are easily preventable through a simple solution: talking to each other. This task force has proven to be an effective platform to facilitate quick coordination among its members so that diggings and road repairs won’t end up damaging fiber cables,” he added.
Meanwhile, DPWH Region 10 director Lilibeth Aparecio said their contractors now know what spots to avoid when doing roadworks with the creation of the task force.
“On the part of the DPWH, coordination with telecommunications companies like Globe, has led to better planning. Our contractors know spots to avoid when doing road repairs and other roadwork.” Aparecio said.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News