Bidders for 3rd telco: P1.7 million for documents, bond

MANILA, Philippines — Interested parties bidding to be the new third telecommunications player can buy the bid documents at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) starting today.

“The bid documents are ready for distribution, they are available,” Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said yesterday.

“They can buy them from the NTC. NTC is the lead star here, they are the ‘operating unit,’” Rio said.

It was learned that a set of bid documents is worth P1 million.

Bidders are also required to submit a participation security of P700 million in the form of cash or cashiers’/manager’s check, draft, or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a universal or commercial bank.

Rio explained the sale of the bid documents can be done after the NTC had published the invitation to bid in two major newspapers of general circulation yesterday.

Rio said they were allotting a month for bidders to submit their offers.

“So by Nov. 7, we want all bids to be in,” he said. 

Rio said he was satisfied so far with the progress of their accelerated efforts to lay down a transparent, fair and open process for the selection of a third player that can provide telco and internet connectivity services to consumers, complying with the stated wish of President Duterte. 

In the “Invitation to Participate” notice published in The STAR yesterday, the NTC said it will hold a “pre-selection information session” on Oct. 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the NTC Multi-Purpose Hall in the NTC Central Office building in Quezon City that is open to all prospective participants and interested stakeholders.

According to the notice, bidders are to submit their “selection documents” to the chairperson of the NTC NMP Selection Committee, namely Ella Blanca Lopez, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 and 6, and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Nov 7., at the NTC Multi-Purpose Hall.

“Late submissions shall not be accepted,” the NTC said in the notice.