MANILA – Telecommunications company (telco) PLDT on Thursday reported a drop in cable and telco equipment theft in most of 2025 and attributed it to stronger partnerships with local government units (LGUs), police and communities nationwide.
In a statement, PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart (PLDT-Smart) highlighted their collaboration with barangays through the intensified rollout of the asset protection project dubbed “Bayanihan.”
As part of the project, PLDT-Smart’s Asset Protection and Security Governance (APSRG) group conducted collaboration sessions with barangays in Makati, Dagupan, Davao City, Liloan, Calamba, General Santos, Quezon City, Rodriguez in Rizal, Pasay, Cagayan de Oro and Dasmarinas, Cavite in 2025.
“Our intensified collaboration with barangays this year highlights the importance of bringing communities into the conversation when it comes to protecting our network,” PLDT-Smart vice president and head of property Leo Gonzales said.
He added that every cable of equipment safeguarded from theft helps ensure uninterrupted connectivity for their customers.
“By working hand in hand with local leaders and residents, we are not simply preventing theft, we are also ensuring that digital services remain accessible and reliable for millions of Filipinos,” Gonzales said.
PLDT-Smart Security and Central Command head, retired Col. Romeo Basco, said such partnerships make a “real difference” on the ground.
“When barangays and local authorities actively help monitor, report incidents, or apprehend thieves, we can respond faster and prevent bigger disruptions. This shared sense of responsibility empowers communities to protect the infrastructure that keeps them connected,” Basco said.
In 2024, PLDT-Smart logged almost 1,000 loss incidents, mostly involving copper cables.
In certain areas in Manila, such thefts occurred as often as every three days.
Since then, PLDT-Smart logged a 34 percent drop in apprehension incidents and a 24 percent decrease in apprehended suspects from January to November of this year compared to the same period last year.
“This underscores the effectiveness of the Group’s strengthened security measures, which include efforts to deter theft before it occurs. These results mark a critical milestone in the Group’s mission to curb losses, maintain service reliability, and uphold public trust,” he said. (PNA)
