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The
provincial government through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
has given Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications (PLDT)
an ultimatum to settle its obligation with the province in
lease and rental of lot it occupied from 1993 to the tune
of PhP11,694,460 or the giant telecommunications company will
face legal action.
This
recommendation contained in the joint committees on public
utilities and government properties was recently approved
by the SP.
"Failure
on the part of PLDT to pay their obligation, a legal action
will be filed by the Provincial Government of Bohol to collect
the unpaid rentals."
The
action based on the recommendation of the Provincial Legal
Office stated that PLDT is given 15 days within which to settle
its liabilities including surcharge computed and provided
by the Provincial Treasurer's Office after submission of the
Statement of Account.
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The
recommendation also urged the provincial government
to make formal the stay of the PLDT by way of a Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) between the company and the province
which must provide and define new provisions on contract
on taxes,rental
of the lot and existing facilities of the former Bureau
of Telecommunications (Butel).
It
will be recalled the provincial government acquired
the telephone facility from Canada and mounted it at
the former BUTEL building along Marapao Street, this
city during the incumbency of then Gov. Constancio Torralba.
But after a little while the Department of Transportation
and Communications (DOTC) turned it over to PLDT after
the reported bidding. Since then, PLDT runs the facility.
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The
joint committee discovered that the lot now occupied by BUTEL
building containing an area of 426.54 square meters was donated
it on September 9, 1964 during the time of Gov. Bernido to
BUTEL to operate telecommunications system facilities in Bohol.
The
donation was acted by way of an approved Resolution which
provided, among others, a reversion clause that the land will
be reverted to the provincial government when BUTEL will no
longer use it.
The
committee, however, found that there were no legal documents,
such as Deed of Donation nor Deed of Acceptance that PLDT
could produce to support its claim.
The
committee said that based on the PLDT representative Erwin
Rubi, area supervisor, DOTC executed a MOA with the company
with an "abrupt" payment of P20 million upon signing
the said MOA and another P200,000 per month as rental for
15 years apparently without the knowledge and participation
of the provincial government.
On
computation of the rental, Rubi quoted PLDT's Atty. Bomrasa,
chief legal adviser, the company will submit a position paper
requesting the province to pass an ordinance governing the
rental of said lot that should be the basis for the computation
of the rental fees.
But
the SP appeared hesitant to the request of the PLDT considering
that there is already an existing ordinance governing the
rental fees and other charges for use of facilities owned
by the provincial government.
Board
Members Alfonso Damalerio II and Josil E. Trabajo, public
utilities committee chairman and vice-chairman, respectively;
and Amalia Tirol and Atty. Aster A. Piollo government properties
chairperson; and vice-chairperson, respectively signed the
joint committee report no. 2008-02 dated January 22, 2008.
(RVO)
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