MALACAÑANG is optimistic that a third telecommunications player will be named by next month or else President Duterte will take over the government search.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the selection process for the third major player, conducted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, was still ongoing.
“Kasalukuyan pa ring pina-process iyan, pero ang sabi ni Presidente noon, if you remember, sabi niya during my tête-à-tête conversation with him, di ba sabi niya, pag by November, wala pang nangyayari diyan, I’ll take over,” said Panelo, adding that the government can hopefully meet its November deadline.
Last September, the President said he would “take over” the selection process of the third telco player if no decision is made by next month.
Duterte, who has expressed dismay with the delay in the selection process, said if he had his way, he would ask interested companies to submit their proposals to his office so he could review them. He promised to choose the company with the “best track record.”
The President earlier pushed for the entry of a third telco carrier in the country by March or April to break the duopoly of PLDT-Smart Communications and Globe Telecoms and improve telco services. He first made the offer to China to join the telco industry but other foreign companies have later shown interest in the venture.
Eliseo Rio Jr., secretary of the DICT, appeared in a recent Senate hearing and declared the government was on track on searching for the new major telco player. He said barring any decision from the court, a provisional new major player might be announced by Nov. 7.
Eight companies, including three foreign telco operators, have reportedly expressed interest in becoming a new major player. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
