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AMSTERDAM Holdings Inc. (AHI) plans to sue officials
of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for
junking the company’s proposal to build the government’s first
national broadband network.
“We are preparing for all the
legal options. As long as we see that we have the better proposal,
we will follow the process for pursuing the project,” Adrian S.
Sugay, AHI legal counsel, told reporters.
Elmer A. Soneja, DOTC assistant
secretary, said AHI had failed to submit a “complete proposal”
including a feasibility study, company profile, list of completed
works and latest financial statements, to comply with Section 10.5
of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law.
Soneja said AHI also failed to
disclose its financial and technological partners, making it
impossible for the DOTC to determine its financial and technical
capabilities.
Marinelle B. O’Santos, AHI
legal counsel, however, contested Soneja’s claims.
“As far as we are concerned we
have complied with all the requirements, including the technical
studies and feasibility studies. We were not informed that we lacked
any requirements until recently,” she said.
AHI estimated the cost of the
broadband project at $240 million to be constructed under a BOT
arrangement.
Earlier, the National Economic
and Development Authority approved the project, which would be
finance by official development assistance (ODA) from China. The
project would be completed in three years.
This project aims to create
seamless connectivity among state agencies down to the barangay
offices of local government units (LGUs) to enhance delivery of
government services.
The project also aims to cut the
government’s communication and travel costs.
--Darwin G. Amojelar
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