PLDT to cut interconnection with PT&T due to unpaid arrears

Top phone firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. will be cutting off all interconnection trunks with Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (PT&T), which it said has failed to pay overdue accounts with PLDT. Alfredo B. Carrera, PLDT first vice president for regulatory and telecom industry relations said that PLDT will temporarily disconnect all connections to PT&T starting February 10 until such time that the accounts have been fully paid. "PT&T once again violated our Interim Interconnection Agreement, i.e., default in the settlement payment of long over due accounts with PLDT," Carrera said in a letter to the National Telecommunications Commission. Carrera said PT&T failed to pay agreed interconnection charges for the period August to November 2007 amounting to P1.13 million. He added that PT&T continues to disregard agreed payment schedule, and insists to use its own payment scheme. "PT&T's payment which was due last December 31,2007 has not yet been made since the check payment to PLDT is post-dated January 15,2008," Carrera said. To date, Carrera said, total amount due from PT&T ending May last year is P8.4 million which the company demand for immediate and full payment. - GMANews.TV