PLDT Inc. said Tuesday that Tagbanua Indigenous cultural communities in Palawan had given the green light to a submarine cable project.
Members of the Tagbanua Central Indigenous Com (ICC) in Napsan, Puerto Princesa and the Tagbanua Calamian ICC in Busuanga were said to have signed memoranda of agreement with PLDT and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples involving the telco's Palawan Resiliency Submarine Cable Project.
An agreement with the Tagbanua Tandulanen ICC in Sibaltan, El Nido is scheduled for signing in June.
"We are thankful for this opportunity to work more closely with our Tagbanua communities, so that we are able to build resilient network infrastructure that also honors their customs, rights, and stewardship,” PLDT Vice President Arvin Siena said in a statement.
PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo Jimenez said, "Strengthening Palawan’s network resiliency supports PLDT’s broader mission of nation building through digital inclusion.
“Through network resiliency and expansion projects in critical areas like Palawan, we can help bridge connectivity gaps, improve network reliability, and ensure that even far-flung communities are able to reap the benefits of the internet with no island left offline," he added.
The telco said this initiative is part of its efforts to expand its network infrastructure and support the government’s digitalization thrust.
PLDT's share price fell by P19.00 to close at P1,210 apiece on Thursday.