Poe: NTC selection panel had lapses in examining Mislatel franchise
Credit to Author: jespinosa| Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2019 08:04:32 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) selection committee had lapses in examining the franchise of the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc. (Mislatel), which is part of the consortium that has been chosen as the country’s third teleco player, Senator Grace Poe said Thursday.
Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services conducting a probe on the third telco, said that the NTC or the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) should have seen in the first place if Mislatel has a valid franchise or not.
“Sa simula pa lamang dapat ay nakita na ng NTC or DICT (Department of Information and Communication Technology) na mayroon talagang valid na franchise (‘yung Mislatel),” Poe told reporters.
It was found out during the hearing that the franchise of the Mislatel could be considered “revoked” as the company had failed to comply with some of the provisions of its franchise.
Senator Franklin Drilon said that Mislatel was not able to operate within a year from the grant of its franchise, which was in April 1998.
Drilon also pointed out the failure of the company to seek congressional approval to the transfer of its control.
“Doon sa level nila, may pagkukulang sila (NTC selection committee),” Poe said, when asked if the selection committee did examine the franchise of the Mislatel.
The lapses of the selection committee could result to the delay in the approval of the Mislatel Consortium to be the third telco player in the country.
“Dahil sa pagkukulangan na yon, nakabinbin ngayon dito (sa Senate). ‘Pag hindi namin ginawa ng tama rito, pwedeng pumunta sa korte yung iba, at pagdating sa Korte, habang dini-desisyunan yan, hindi pwedeng gumalaw ito. Mas lalo tayong matatagalan,” she said. /je