Palace: Duterte, Uy 'closeness' had nothing to do with third telco bid
MANILA, Philippines — The assumption that Davao businessman Dennis Uy's relationship with President Rodrigo Duterte affected the process of the bidding for the country's third major telco player is baseless, Malacañang said Thursday.
Mislatel Consortium, a joint venture between Uy's Udenna Corporation and state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation, was the only firm allowed to bid for the third telco slot.
Sear Telecom and Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corporation were disqualified for incomplete requirements but will appeal with the National Telecommunications Commission.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte does not interfere with his departments, including committees of departments under the executive branch.
"So the President has nothing to do with any of those bidding, any of those negotiations or contracts. That’s the policy of the President and it holds until the end of his term," Panelo told reporters Thursday.
Asked about the relationship between the president and the Davao businessman, Panelo said he is not sure whether the two are close friends or not.
During the media briefing, radio dzRH correspondent Henry Uri pointed out that Uy contributed to Duterte's presidential campaign in 2016 but Panelo insisted that "it doesn't make you close to the president if you support the president."
"I think it’s a baseless assumption because given the character of this president, it’s farfetched. As we all know, relationship, alliances, friendship do not matter with this president," Panelo added.
The consortium of Uy and China Telecom emerged as the lone qualified bidder among the initial 10 groups aspiring to earn the country's third major telco spot.
“The consortium is confident that Udenna Corp.’s extensive supply chain and knowledge of local industries will complement the world-class technology and telecommunications expertise of China Telecommunications Corp., one of the world’s largest and most experienced fixed and mobile network operators. Meanwhile, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp.’s expertise in logistics and distribution will enable the speedy development of the network,” Mislatel consortium said in a statement.
PLDT Inc. informed the government about the divestment of some of its radio frequencies, which will be available to the country’s upcoming third telecommunications player.
In a letter to the National Telecommunications Commission dated March 5, PLDT President and CEO Manuel Pangilinan officially communicated to the government that it will surrender 10 Mhz of 3G radio frequency held by CURE for no compensation. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral
DITO Telecommunity will launch its service in key areas in Visayas and Mindanao starting on March 8.
The third telco player says it will then make its way to the rest of the country in just a couple of months.
DITO services will be first available in the following areas:
Metro Cebu
- Carcar
- Cebu City
- Consolacion
- Danao
- Liloan
- Mandaue
- Minglanilla
- Naga
- San Fernando
- Talisay
Metro Davao
- Panabo
- Tagum
- Carmen
- Davao City
- Digos
The Philippine government awards the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Mislatel consortium, officially greenlighting its operation as the third telco provider in the country.
President Rodrigo Duterte graced the awarding ceremony at Malacañan Palace which was led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission.
The winning consortium of the third telco bid, comprised of Mislatel, Udenna Corporation, China Telecom and Chelsea Logistics, promised to offer 55 mbps of internet speed that covers 84.01% of the population in five years.
Udenna Corp.'s Dennis Uy is attending the Senate hearing on issues surrounding third telco player in the Philippines.
Also at the hearing National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, News5's Meanne Los Baños reports.
The National Telecommunications Commission has issued an order confirming Mislatel—the consortium of Dennis Uy-led Udenna Corp, Chelsea Logistics Holdings and China Telecommunications Corp.—as the third telco player in the Philippines, ONE News' Bimbo Santos reports.
LOOK | NTC issues a confirmation order declaring Mislatel as the new major telco player. The order signals the start of a 90-day post-qualification period before the issuance of frequencies and necessary permits. (via @josebimbosantos) pic.twitter.com/goGHhEO68N
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) November 19, 2018
The order comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to arrive in the Philippines for a state visit.
The NTC selection committee denies PT&T’s motion for reconsideration appealing the result of the third telco selection process.
On Monday, the committee also junked Sear Telecom's appeal seeking to declare Mislatel Consortium guilty of misrepresentation of facts and concealing material evidence in the bidding.
It added that the denial was a "rushed resolution."
JUST IN | The NTC selection committee nixes PT&T’s motion for reconsideration to appeal the result of the third telco selection process. (via @News5AKSYON / @josebimbosantos) pic.twitter.com/NJppLqDXjo
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) November 13, 2018
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