Mindanao business firms need more security
to safeguard assets: PLDT chair Pangilinan

More security measures need to be taken by the government to safeguard the business assets, as firms continue to face the volatile peace and order situation of Mindanao, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) chair Manuel Pangilinan said.

"As a whole in many business, peace and order is one of the concerns in our operations in the provinces especially in the remote areas," Pangilinan told journalists whom PLDT invited to Makati City for its annual stockholders meeting last week.

"We really need the help of government to safe guard our assets," the business tycoon said. "The good news is that incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, his major platform focuses on criminality, law and order as well as economy.

Pangilinan suggested that "the best solution to ensuring security of business firms in Mindanao is that we are identified with the community that we are there not only to do business but also to help out the needs of the community."

Underlining the importance of community service as an integral part of any business operation, the PLDT chairman said it's imperative too that industry players provide livelihood to the people and service to particular areas.

"I think that's the best weapon against the lawless elements is the involvement of community with the business because it's affecting everyone if there's no production and the firm shuts down its operation, all of us suffers," he said.

Months before the May 9 elections this year, several transmission towers were damaged in a spate of bombings by lawless elements who extort 'protection money' from power firms that only aggravated the tenuous power situation in Mindanao.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking help of all stakeholders especially the national government regarding bombing by the lawless groups issues that has hindered the transmission company to give optimum service in Mindanao.

As of December 28, a total of 16 towers were already bombed, nine of which were totally toppled and now restored by Emergency Restoration Structure (ERS).

Adding more weight to the problem for NGCP is the uncooperative landowners hindering them in restoring the bombed Tower No. 25.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan said that to improve their telcom services, PLDT is pouring billions of pesos for the shift to digital, but no government funds were involved in the company’s investment.

“Whose money is being spent? It’s the private sector’s. There is no guarantee from the government, no government fund is involved, so get out of the way, period,” Pangilinan said.

“If ever the huge undertaking comes out lousy, it’s the company that will suffer the impact, to the delight of its competitors, and not the government,” he said.

If private projects fail, he added, “the government will not rescue us.”

Given the stiff competition in the digital industry, Pangilinan said, “we are mindful of other guys watching us. We have to be on our toes. Somebody is watching us, like a wife, to police [our] ethical standards,” he said.

Improving the digital industry’s services will take time and lots of money, he said. “The journey to the digital future will be long and the climb is steep."

“There will be false starts, there will be speed bumps, and there will be mistakes,” he said. MGP News