PT&T appeals P444-million National Telecommunications Commission fees

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) has filed a petition before the Court of Appeals to review the National Telecommunications Commission’s decision ordering the company to pay P443.79 million worth of supervision and regulation fee (SRF).

“We already filed a petition before the Court of Appeals contesting only the amount used as basis to compute the fees. Any amounts or fees owed, once cleared up, is an amount the company wishes to settle going forward,” PT&T president and chief executive James Velasquez said.

Velasquez said PT&T has already paid P20.57 million spectrum users fee (SUF) to NTC from 2003 to 2018 and the uncontested P10.27 million SRF for 2018.

“As a sign of PT&T’s willingness to comply with the regulations of NTC, PT&T paid last Sept. 28 the uncontested portion of the SRF for the year 2018 in the amount of P10.2 million based on the correct paid-up capital of PT&T. Last Sept. 28, PT&T likewise paid in full its outstanding SUF due to NTC in the amount of P20.5 million,” the firm said.

“While PT&T is required to pay an annual SRF, the amount PT&T is being required to pay under the Sept. 28, decision of the NTC is erroneous for the same was computed by the NTC based on the wrong paid-up capital of PT&T,” the listed company added.

Telecom and broadcast companies pay an SRF of P0.50 for every P100 of paid capital, the telco said.

The NTC decision showed that the regulator denied PT&T’s previous appeals and instead ordered it to settle P329.67 million worth of SRF from 2002 to 2015, and additional P114.12 million from 2016 to 2017.

“Respondent had not raised new grounds to compel a reversal on the ruling on the subject matter. Respondent is liable to pay SRF for 2008 and onwards, contrary to its arguments,” the NTC said.

PT&T said it is cleared to bid as the new major player in the country’s telecommunication industry.

Based on the terms of reference issued by NTC, interested participants shall have no uncontested outstanding liabilities such as SRF and SUF, other penalties, surcharges and interests to the agency.

PT&T is a publicly-listed company which holds a 25-year franchise, allowing it to establish, maintain and operate both wired and wireless telecommunications systems for domestic and international communication in the Philippines.