Sear Telecom, PT&T fail to file another MR

SEAR Telecommunications and Philippine Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (PT&T) failed to file for another motion for reconsideration to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) after their deadline to file one ended on Thursday, November 15.

The two bidders initially filed their motion for reconsideration after being disqualified. Their motions were junked by NTC earlier this week.

“Pwede pa rin naman silang magfile ng motion for reconsideration, ang last day ay November 15 and so far wala pang nagfile ng motion dahil ngayon po mayroon na ngang P10 million appeal fee (They can still file for motion for reconsideration. November 15 is the last day, and so far no company filed a motion because they now have to pay a P10 million appeal fee),” Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) acting secretary Elisio Rio said in a press conference Thursday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Rio added that if these companies still think that there are lapses in the procedures by the NTC they can file a case against the agency to the Court of Appeals.

He said it is these companies’ right to assert their want to be the third telecommunications player.

Meanwhile, Rio said the bidding process for the third player was transparent.

“Inabot kami ng ten months sa buong process hanggang na award na nga ang bid for the third telco (It took us ten months for the whole procedure until we awarded the bid for the third telco),” Rio said.

The NTC selection committee disqualified PT&T of their bids due to their failure of submission of the company’s certificate of technical capability from NTC.

Meanwhile, Sear Telecom was disqualified by the selection committee because of their lack of participation security amounting to P700 million and late submission for the required bond.