Former Deputy Speaker and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez on Monday, February 22 called on the House of Representatives to inquire into the reported mounting complaints against the third telecommunications player in the country.
In a press statement, Fernandez said the DITO Telecommunity Corp. should give the Lower House its explanation on the “endless accusations and charges” hurled against it notwithstanding the fact that it has yet to be fully operational in a few days.
Fernandez, a member of the “Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo” bloc headed by former Speaker and Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, said that the House of Representatives, having been the first to grant DITO a legislative franchise to operate, has the responsibility to make sure that the new telco will do its business as required under the law.
He said Congress “could not turn a blind eye anymore to the endless accusations” hurled against DITO.
“Mula sa hindi pa masagot na isyu na may banta sa ating national security itong network rollout nila, paglabag sa ilang mandato ng local government units (LGUs) at barangay at reklamo ng iba’t ibang komunidad, masasabi nating seryoso at dapat lang masiyasat ng Kongreso ang mga reklamong ito laban sa DITO telco (From its failure to respond to the issue of national security concerns over their network rollout, violations of mandates of local government units and barangay unit and complaints from different communities, it is safe to say that these are serious and that Congress must conduct an inquiry on the complaint against DITO telco),” Fernandez said
“As soon as possible, I will file a resolution to formally ask the House leadership to direct the appropriate committee, which is most
likely the committee on information and communications technology, to immediately conduct an investigation,” he stated.
Initially, Fernandez said DITO may have rushed everything, inluding the construction activities in its “frantic desire to meet its target” of putting up 1,600 cell towers before the March 8 commercial rollout.
The senior administration congressman cited the seeming inability of the new telco to comply with the requirements of Bayanihan Law such as building permit and height clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for its internet infrastructure.
Fernandez cited as an example the reported issuance by the Office of Building Official ng Bacolod City of the 1st Notice of Violation against DITO for the alleged illegal construction of a cell site in Purok Himaya, Bgy. Alijis, which allegedly violates Section 301 ng Presidential Decree 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines.
Earlier, residents of Purok Himaya and Purok Paghigugma in Brgy. Alijis expressed their opposition to DITO’s construction of a cell tower in their area by filing a petition letter before the City Council seeking to stop such alleged illeal activity.
Last December, the Malabon City government filed a complaint before the City Prosecutor’s Office against the third telco player for constructing a cell site in Brgy. Tinajeros without the necessary permit.