Palace, DICT say no irregularities in bidding for 3rd telco

Malacañang on Thursday welcomed the entry of a third telecommunications player in the country, even as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) maintained that there was no irregularity in the bidding process.

"Our people have long waited for a reliable, efficient, and inexpensive telecommunications service. The President’s strong political will has laid the foundation for its realization," Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

In an interview on Unang Balita, DICT acting secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. denied that accusation by unsuccessful bidders that "new rules" were implemented at the last minute before the bidding process.

"Ito 'yung reklamo nila na nagkaroon daw ng bagong rules, na hindi sila inano... pero mapatunayan naman ng NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) na walang bago ho, 'no? Ang aming stand dito, pantay-pantay ho. This took almost one year, isang taon ho ito na may mga public forum at lahat ho sila nag-attend ho sa mga public discussion na ito," he said.

"'Yung naging final na ang term of reference, bakit ho ngayon lang naglalabasan ang reklamo nito? Tulad ng sinabi ko, hindi kami ang pumili, 'yun ang computer ang pumili sa kanila na pantay-pantay ho doon din sa ibang nag-bid. And malakas din 'yung mga iba," he added.

Rio's clarification came after those who were disqualified in the bidding process claimed that the NTC did not inform them about some of the "new rules" in the selection process.

Last Wednesday, the NTC declared Mislatel Consortium as the country’s provisional third telco, saying that its bid documents were "qualified" and "complete."

The consortium is made up of Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp., its subsidiary Chealsea Logistics Holdings Corp., and state-owned China Telecommunications Corp.

Uy was one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s significant campaign contributors in his  presidential race.

According to his statement of contributions and expenditures, Uy contributed P30 million to Duterte’s campaign kitty for the 2016 polls.

Panelo noted that the preliminary selection process was transparent, fair, and was done in accordance with laws and with pertinent rules and regulations.

"Complying with the legal and constitutional requirements, Mislatel won over the two other bidders. Impositions in favor of the government and the end users have been made such as the requirement of performance bonds to ensure sound performance by the new player," he said.

"In the spirit of fairness, losing bidders can appeal their cases before appropriate agencies," Panelo added.

Panelo also emphasized that Duterte, who had given the timeline for a third player to come in not later than November, does not interfere with the duty of his administration's key officials as long as they properly perform their mandates.

Meanwhile, infrastructure-oriented think tank Infrawatch PH called for the disqualification of the Mislatel consortium over its partner's loss of franchise in 2003.

Terry Ridon, the group's convener, said Mislatel is non-operational as it has been automatically revoked in 2003 for its failure to join the stock market. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News