AFP opens camps for Mislatel

Based on the agreement, the AFP will determine specific locations with its rental value for use of Mislatel in the installation and management of its communications sites without undermining the operations of affected AFP units

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is opening its doors for Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company (Mislatel) to build its communications facilities inside military camps and installations.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said the AFP-Mislatel partnership will allow the third telecommunications company to compete with the two major networks.

“This partnership gives Mislatel a fair chance to compete with the other networks, given that the AFP also have similar partnership with Globe and Smart,” Madrigal said.

Mislatel consortium, which will adopt the name Dito Telecommunity, is composed of Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Udenna Corp, and China Telecom.

Dennis Uy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dito Telecommunity, expressed gratitude to the AFP for opening its camps to the company.

“We at Dito Telecommunity are truly grateful to the AFP for this partnership. The roll-out of Dito’s towers is indeed one herculean feat. With this partnership with the AFP, we are nearer our goal of building a wide and robust network,” Uy said.

The AFP-Mislatel partnership was sealed during Wednesday’s signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) by Maj Gen. Adrian Sanchez Jr., AFP’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems, J6, and Atty. Adel Tamano, Chief Administrative Officer of Mislatel.

Madrigal said that the AFP has also entered into MoA with the two other telcos that worked favorably to the information and communications technology (ICT) facilities of the military.

“Our MoA with other telcos significantly improved the ICT infrastructure of the AFP and we are optimistic that this opportunity will also bring great benefits to the armed forces,” Madrigal said.

The MoA will be endorsed by Madrigal to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Based on the agreement, the AFP will determine specific locations with its rental value for use of Mislatel in the installation and management of its communications sites without undermining the operations of affected AFP units.

Mislatel is also required to “furnish all equipment, labor and materials necessary to effect the co-location of its facilities and shoulders all expenses in connection with or incidental to the co-location” and payment of all taxes, permits, licenses and other charges.

Payment will be made by providing CEIS equipment, upgrade, services and training to the AFP equivalent to the monetary value of the lease subject to inflation.

Mislatel was conferred with the status of new major player in the telecommunications industry by the National Telecommunications Commission November last year.