CEBU CITY , Philippines, September 4, 2013 -- Leading telecoms firm PLDT has entered into an agreement with the Durano family-owned Danao Telecom (Datelco), the sole telco provider in Danao City in Cebu province, to provide  telecommunications services in the city following Datelco's decision to wind down its local exchange (LEC) business.

"We welcome this opportunity to further expand our coverage in Cebu where we recently rolled out our fiber-to-the-home facilities," PLDT President and CEO Napoleon Nazareno said.

In an agreement signed today, Datelco will transfer its existing customers to PLDT’s network. The two companies also agreed to embark on joint marketing and promotions of PLDT’s products and services in Cebu’s 5th District.

After more than 20 years of operations, Datelco is winding down its LEC business as the cost of upgrading its own network became untenable.

"We are pleased to turn over our customers to PLDT who we believe will be able to take care of them very well," said Datelco President Oscar Rodriguez. "Being the largest telecoms company in the Philippines today, PLDT will be able to provide Danao's residents and business establishments quality voice, data, and even emerging multimedia services."

"Coupled with the various economic programs being implemented in the city, we are  excited by the possibilities that the entry of PLDT will bring not only to the people of Danao City but also to nearby municipalities. We definitely see PLDT as a partner in promoting the economic growth of the city and nearby areas," Rodriguez added.

PLDT has in the past acquired  local telephone companies such as SubicTel, Clarktel in Central Luzon, Maranao Telecoms, CruzTelco Cluster 3 and Philcom in Mindanao.

"Beyond the agreement that we signed today, we are genuinely interested in joining hands with Datelco in contributing to the development of areas north of Metro Cebu city that holds so much promise," PLDT's Nazareno concluded.

PLDT introduced recently its ultra-fast Fibr service in Cebu, initially covering around 40 areas.  Fibr which is PLDT Home's most powerful broadband allows lag-free simultaneous streaming of content, free access to Hollywood blockbuster movies via clickplay.ph, and free HD channels from Cignal.