PT&T says it no longer has NTC obligations

PHILIPPINE Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (PT&T) said it has paid all its liabilities with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), ahead of its participation in the bidding for a new major telco player next month.

In a statement on Monday, PT&T said it received a certification from the NTC that it has no uncontested obligations to the Commission as of Oct. 1 — a requirement in the bidding’s selection terms.

“PT&T already paid P20.57 million spectrum users’ fee to NTC from 2003 to 2018 and the uncontested P10.27 million SRF (supervision and regulation fee) for 2018,” the listed firm said.

In the final selection terms for the third telco player bidding, the NTC said among the outstanding liabilities that a prospective participant must settle are the SUF and SRF, including penalties, surcharges and interests.

“Since embarking on its revival, PT&T has been clearing the way to meet all the pre-qualification requirements to bid for the New Major Player or the 3rd Telco bid,” PT&T President and Chief Executive Officer James G. Velasquez said in the statement.

“With its long history of providing telecommunications services to the Filipino people across the nation, we believe we can meet all the stringent requirements to participate, this recent certification is another proof point of that,” he added.

However, the listed company still has an ongoing appeal on its almost P500-million fee from the NTC for SRF from 2002 to 2017.

The case is currently with the Court of Appeals, but Mr. Velasquez earlier said it will not affect the company’s participation in the third telco bidding as it is a contested liability.

PT&T is one of nine companies who have purchased the bid documents from the NTC since it was made available on Oct. 8.

Deadline for submission of bids is scheduled on Nov. 7, as the government eyes awarding the third telco player before Christmas. —