Scantel subcontractor eyed in P50 Million Emano Administration project

February 17, 2010

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

The regional office of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC-10) yesterday voiced strong suspicions that the contractor of the P50 million Telepono sa Barangay has taken on a new subcontractor to finish off the 2003 Emano Administration flagship project.

NTC-10 regional director Engr. Teodoro Buenavista, Jr. and his engineers disclosed that their office has received reports that the Supplier Contractor and Networking Telecommunications (Scantel) has taken on another firm to complete and make functional all its Telepono sa Barangay installations in 17 Barangays.

He said that they want to find out if this subcontractor now has the proper permits and accreditation to install such telecommunication devices considering that Scantel did not have all the required documents.

“But we are still looking into these reports kay, even if assuming there is this new subcontractor and this new subcontractor has all the permits, kinahanglan gihapon ni sila mo-agi sa amoang opisina,” he said.

He added that Scantel itself is a subcontractor of sorts already considering that its mother company is Enhanced Electronics and Communication Services, Inc. headed by its president Francis Villapando, Jr.

Scantel signed the P50 million Telepono sa Barangay contract with then mayor Vicente Emano last May 23, 2003.

The contract stipulates that Scantel must finish the project within 120 calendar days after the issuance of the permit to proceed issued that same month and year.

Meanwhile, lawyers yesterday contended the two extensions to finish the project granted by incumbent city mayor Constantino Jaraula to Scantel was an “ultra vires act”.

Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro chapter president Atty. Dale Mordeno said Jaraula should have first have sought authority of the City Council before grating the two extensions last December 31, 2007 and last March 31, 2008.

“The mayor’s authority was limited by the city council, he should have sought the authority of the city council first before he allowed extended time for scantel. As it was, the mayor might have exceeded his authority. It is known in law as ultra vires act,” he said.

Atty. Mart Maandig, former City Legal Officer and head of the panel that Jaraula created to investigate Scantel, and opposition lawyer Atty. Manuel Ravanera echoed Mordeno’s words.

“There must be an authority from the City Council cause it is in effect a novation of contract,” Maandig said.

Ravanera for his part said this is so unless there is a stipulation embodied in the 2003 Scante-Emano P50 million contract granting the sitting mayor the powers to extend the deadline for the completion of the project or such other similar conditions.

Still, Mordeno said it is best to give Jaraula a chance to act on this still project.
“Let us give the mayor the benefit of doubt. I’m pretty sure he too is interested to see the project completed,” Mordeno said.

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