Politics · Philippines Bureau
Official defends P1.55B e-government contracts awarded to PLDT firms
An undersecretary has defended the allocation of P1.55 billion in e-government contracts to companies within the PLDT group, stating no conflict of interest existed in the award process. The telecommunications conglomerate has maintained long-standing relationships serving government agencies and private sector clients.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Undersecretary David Almirol has rejected allegations of conflict of interest regarding P1.55 billion in e-government contracts now under scrutiny, asserting that the deals were awarded to established firms within the PLDT group that have extensive experience serving government and private sector clients.
"I firmly maintain that there was no conflict of interest," Almirol stated in response to ongoing investigations into the contract awards. He emphasized that PLDT, the country's largest telecommunications conglomerate, and its subsidiary companies have decades of experience providing services to government agencies and private businesses.
The contracts have drawn attention from oversight bodies examining the procurement process and decision-making criteria used in their allocation. Almirol's defense centers on the established track record and qualifications of the PLDT group entities in delivering telecommunications and digital government services.
The e-government initiative aims to modernize government service delivery through digital infrastructure and online platforms. Officials have indicated that the selection of contractors was based on technical capabilities and experience in handling large-scale government projects.