By Genalyn D. Kabiling
The government is considering India as a possible major player in the country’s telecommunications sector, President Duterte disclosed Tuesday night.
The President said he invited India to invest in the country’s telecommunications industry when he visited New Delhi last January.
“India is also interested to enter into the telecom industry and we are considering,” Duterte said during the induction of the new officials of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerces Inc. in Malacañang. “I invited them during my talks with the businessmen of India during my official visit,” he added.
Duterte noted that the government would make a frequency available to a new major telecommunications player to promote market competition. He said interested party could discuss the proposed investment with the concerned government officials.
“I have opened up the third frequency for telecommunication, telecoms. If you are the representative there, you can always go to them and discuss business,” he said.
The President advised investors to shun any extortion attempt by public officials, saying they are not supposed to spend for anything other than the official government fees. He also urged them to report any corruption complaint to his office for appropriate action.
“If you are asked to shell out money or there is a transaction which involves corruption for a favor or for a permit then let me know,” Duterte said. “Unless you are ready to give it then just shut up because it’s yours. But you are not supposed to spend for anything unless it’s part of the official fees and the collections of government,
regulatory fees most of it,” he said.
The President has pushed for the entry of a third telecommunications carrier in the country by March or April to break the duopoly of PLDT-Smart Communications and Globe Telecoms.
