By BEN R. ROSARIO
The Philippines is the only country in the world that has squandered a chance to earn an average of billion, approximately one-fifth of its R1-trillion annual budget, from the 3G (third generation) communications technology.
Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez blamed graft at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and leading telecommunications companies (telcos) in the country as the culprits behind the government’s inability to realize the huge profit from the grant of 3G bandwidth franchises.
Suarez, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight, said he is preparing the filing of graft charges against officials of the NTC and telcos.
This, if the NTC and telcos do not agree to recall the 3G franchises awarded by the NTC without a bidding.
"I will personally file the cases before the Ombudsman. I am ready to go to the Supreme Court for that," Suarez said at the Usaping Balita Media Forum at Serye Café in Quezon City.
Suarez claimed the NTC officials are liable for conspiring to commit graft by awarding the franchise to five telcos for a song.
"What we are asking in Congress is why did the NTC award the franchises without any fee," he said.
The oversight panel launched a legislative inquiry into the issue last January and summoned NTC officials to explain why government failed to take advantage of the rare chance to make money by offering the franchises to the highest bidder.
"This is the technology of the future. Germany was able to raise R1 trillion, which is this year’s Philippine budget, from the sale of the 3G franchises," he said.
He also disclosed that franchises on 3G technology had earned at least 4 billion in 26 countries.
Suarez said the Arroyo government could easily raise a minimum R10 billion from the telcos had the NTC observed the procedure of bidding.
Nine telcos reportedly expressed interest in securing 3G franchises but the NTC disqualified four of them for still unknown reasons.
One of those disqualified was Bayantel, easily one of the country’s leading landline telecommunication firms.
"How did they (NTC) arrived at the decision to issue franchises for five companies when there were nine applicants," Suarez asked.
Among those who bagged the prized 3G franchises were Globe, Smart, and Sun Cellular.
"These firms could not even give government a fair accounting of its profits from pre-paid cards yet they were able to get a fresh chance of cornering bigger profit via 3G technology," Suarez noted.
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