City owes PLDT P2 million, but CH points out "questionable" lines

CEBU, Philippines – The Philippine Long Distance Company has asked the city government to settle its outstanding telephone bill equivalent to at least three months of consumption.

In a letter addressed to the City Council committee on budget and finance, PLDT said the city has already paid P426,767.20, but still owes the telecom firm P2,034,258.15 as of July 2010.

"Please let us know how we can assist to facilitate immediate settlement of your obligations to PLDT," said PLDT corporate revenue analyst Diowen Mancera in the letter.

But Councilor Jose Daluz, chairman of the committee on budget and finance, said they will have to trace all accounts named under the city because not all in the list are being used by City Hall.

Daluz said it is possible that the other lines are being used by national agencies that were granted phone lines by the city government in the past. Some of these lines reportedly exist since the 70's, but were not turned over to the city properly during the shift in administrations.

Daluz said the city might just ask PLDT to waive the dues.

"That is why we are asking them to just wave it because there is no way we can prove that the city once used those lines. Lisod na ilalis ba," Daluz said.

Daluz said the city has been paying on time for the existing PLDT lines currently used in offices at City Hall. He assured the city will look into the accounts that re-main unpaid.

In a separate interview, City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said she has not received a copy of the letter from PLDT.

 "Nganong adto mana sila maningil nga when it comes to money claims? It should be directed to the CTO," Oliva said.

Oliva said she will ask Mayor Michael Rama to create a team to look into the accounts with pending payments.

"Mangayo ta og break down ka yang ato-a lang, ato ipa-review so that we will be paying the correct amount," Oliva said.

Record of PLDT showed that aside from City Hall and its department offices, accounts under the city government also cover lines of the Philippine National Police headquarters and precinct, the barangay hall of Ermita, the fire department and the mayor's barangay satellite complex.  

PLDT pays over P8 million in franchise and business taxes to the city government annually. - Garry B. Lao and Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (FREEMAN)