National government agencies and the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City government have teamed up with Globe Telecom (Globe) to address the growing number of fiber optic cable cuts caused by road construction activities across Region 10 (Northern Mindanao).
An inter-agency task force—composed of the CDO local government, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—will oversee the protection of telecom infrastructure during roadworks, according to a statement.
The initiative comes in response to a spike in fiber cable disruptions, with Globe reporting 54 incidents in CDO alone from January to December 2024, the highest in the region.
From January to March 2025, Globe recorded 14 new fiber cut incidents in the region.
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Globe officials emphasized the importance of collaboration to minimize service interruptions caused by incidents beyond the control of telecommunications providers, noting that internet connectivity has become essential to daily life.
NTC Region 10 Director, Teodoro Buenavista Jr., said the task force will streamline coordination among agencies to ensure that construction activities take into account the presence of underground and aerial telecom cables. He added that such damage could be avoided through better communication among stakeholders.
DPWH Region 10 Director, Lilibeth Aparecio, has directed district engineers to actively coordinate with the task force. She noted that prior collaboration with telcos like Globe has already helped improve planning and reduce incidents, as contractors are now more aware of areas to avoid during repairs and other infrastructure work.
