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Monday, April 21, 2003
It's now ok for PB to inspect Misortel plants
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE Provincial Board (PB) has now been given the go signal to conduct an actual inspection on the internal plants of Misamis Oriental Telephone Systems, Inc. (Misortel) to check on the alleged anomalies inside the plants.
Committee on Telephone chairman PB member Alejo "Butch" Olano said Misortel's board of directors, composed of all PB members, has finally held a meeting with its chairman Gov. Antonio Calingin last week.
Since during the discussion some alleged anomalies were taken up, he said he suggested that the PB conduct a check on the internal systems of the Misortel plants and offices.
"Igo ra ko misuggest unya gi-approbahan man to ni Gov. nga libre mi mo-conduct ug inspection (I only gave the suggestion and it was approved by Gov. Calingin that we are free to conduct an inspection)," he said.
Earlier Calingin acted rather "hostile" to the PB by prohibiting his department heads from attending the committee hearings on the alleged illegal cash advances.
Misortel is a government-owned and managed corporation. It is the biggest telephone company in terms of subscribers in the city and province.
Element of surprise
In the meantime, the PB on Monday approved the ordinance for the annual budget appropriation for Misortel for 2003.
It was earlier deferred as PB member Norris Babiera wanted an investigation be conducted regarding reports that Misortel's domestic direct distance dialing (DDD) and national direct distance dialing (NDD) are being rerouted.
He had said that Misortel technicians have reported to him how these DDDs and NDDs coming from Misortel subscribers are redirected to other private companies.
This instead of using the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) trunklines, which is cheaper.
Olano said this time they will be able to check on this rerouting of DDDs and NDDs.
He said the inspections will be unscheduled as it will be up to when majority of the PB members when they will be free.
He added that he also wants their inspections to have an element of surprise. Earlier, there were several other reported anomalies surrounding Misortel's transactions.
This included how Misortel's franchise has not been renewed to date, the P15 million allocation for the computerization of the billing system of Misortel and a P25 million switch at Gingoog city which is alleged to cost only about P5 million.
No answers
But comments and reports from other PB members put in doubt whether these issues and anomalies were really and thoroughly tackled on the recent meeting of Misortel's board of directors and answers have been found on these reported anomalies.
This as there were only six items in the Misortel agenda for Feb. board of directors' meeting as according to the notice sent in by Corporate Sec. Atty. Demosthenes Arbilon.
Among this was on the joint pole use between Cagayan de Oro Power and Light Corporation (Cepalco), Misamis Oriental Electric Cooperative I and II (Moresco I and Moresco II).
Their meeting also included an agendum on dealing with the media and exchange deals, realignment of 2003 budget to cover expenditures of 2002, request from Regional Prosecutor Antonio Arellano for the exemption of his office's monthly subscription fees and collection report from Operations Manager Jusie Roxas.
Last week's Misortel Board of Directors' meeting was the first actual meeting for this government-owned company for this year.
(April 21, 2003 issue)
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