House Resolution 93 to probe the telco deal

OFFICE OF AKBAYAN PARTY-LIST REP. TOM VILLARIN
S513 South Wing Building, Batasan Complex, Batasan Hills, Quezon City


PRESS RELEASE
August 2, 2016

AKBAYAN SOLON FILES RESOLUTION SEEKING TELCOS DEAL PROBE

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin has officially filed a resolution directing fellow lawmakers to conduct an inquiry into the P70 billion-deal that may have simply tightened telco giants' grip on the telco industry.

"Consumers are complaining of poor services and exorbitant rates. This is precisely one of the ill effects of their exclusive control over the telco industry," Villarin said.

Officially filed on July 19, House Resolution No. 93 directs the Committee on Trade and Industry to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the review currently being undertaken by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) on PLDT and Globe Telecom's P70-billion acquisition of all telco interests previously owned by San Miguel Corporation.

"We want to get to the root cause of this issue and ascertain whether or not PLDT and Globe's joint purchase was indeed for the benefit of consumers and the public in general," the lawmaker added.

However, the PCC review was met with initial obstacles after the telco giants separately applied for a restraining order from the Court of Appeals (CA) against the PCC.

The CA has already denied Globe Telecom's application for a TRO.

"They are already giants who deliver poor service. Now we are being led to believe that they can perform betyer by being bigger," Villarin stressed.

The PCC was established upon the passage of Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act, a landmark legislation that Akbayan has earnestly and successfully championed in the 16th Congress.

Villarin also welcomes initiatives from non-partisan and civil society sectors calling for better and cheaper services by inducing real competition in the telco industry.