THE GOVERNMENT could require the new entrant into the telecommunications industry to remit to the government any unused portion of its five-year investment commitment, the acting head of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.

DICT Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. said that the department plans to include this condition in the terms of reference for taking in a “third player.”

“If the company has something left from its five-year committed investment, then they can give that to the government,” Mr. Rio said in a phone interview.

The government will require from the third player a commitment of P60 billion annually or P300 billion for five years to compete with PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc.

This potential condition indicates that the government hopes to encourage aggressive investment by the third player to ensure the delivery of services to satisfy market demand.

Mr. Rio also posted on social media that 30 days after the award, the third player could be made to deposit its investment in a designated bank, with the planned annual investment to be deposited on the anniversary of the award.

The third player can withdraw the money to implement its capital spending program.

“So far, (potential investors) have no objections to this,” Mr. Rio said.

The DICT may move the selection of the third player to May instead of March, as interested participants have asked for more time to prepare.

Other requirements for the third player are a congressional franchise for fixed-line and mobile services and have no affiliation with incumbents PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

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