After signing of MOA with AFP
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
The third telco will never compromise the country's security.
In fact, DITO Telecommunity's Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has the same provisions and commitment to national security as the MOAs signed with PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc.
"The notable exception was that additional provisions were provided pertaining to commitments of DITO to national security."
DITO Telecommunity Chief Administrative Officer Atty. Adel Tamano made this clear in yesterday’s statement issued to the media.
He was reacting to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana signing off on the MOA between AFP and DITO allowing the Third Telco to construct towers in military camps and the allegation that non-Filipino nationals will be provided access to military camps once the constructions of these installations begin.
DITO is a consortium that includes Udenna Corporation, Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure, and China Telecommunications Corporation which owns 40 percent.
In the first place, the AFP has stringent protocols that disallow foreign nationals from performing sensitive technical work within military camps.
Retired Major General Rodolfo Santiago, DITO Chief Technology Officer who has served the AFP with
distinction for many years, especially in the field of security and intelligence, confirmed the information.
DITO Telecommunity guaranteed that its devices, equipment, and structures shall not be used to obtain classified information from the AFP.
"May we further remind everyone that as part of the New Major Player selection process, we have submitted our cybersecurity plan during the bidding process to prove that our networks and facilities will not compromise national security and shall abide with the National Cybersecurity Plan," he elaborated.
This plan has been accepted by the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the National Security Advisor.
"DITO Telecommunity is, first and foremost, a Filipino-owned and managed company and will always look after the interests of the Filipino people," Atty.Tamano underscored.
It may be more important to focus more on the fact that DITO has committed to invest P250 billion to improve the Philippine telco industry, he added.
Especially during this pandemic, the company has continuously been providing much-needed investments and jobs for our countrymen, Atty. Tamano pointed out.
"Let me reassure the Filipino public that DITO is steadfast in its commitment to provide world-class telecommunications services," he went on. "We are looking forward to March, 2021 for our committed commercial launch."
DITO Telecommunity Corporation, formerly known as Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc. (MISLATEL) is the third major telecommunications provider in the Philippines after the National Telecommunications Commission awarded it with a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in 2019.
DITO commits to provide world class, fast, affordable, and secure, telecommunications services that connect the Filipino people situated in more than 7,641 islands to the rest of the global community.