Stradcom reacts

Stradcom president Cezar Quiambo sent us an email in reaction to our column item last Oct. 25 (“Business relationship gone bad”) where we mentioned the sentiment of businessman Jimmy Aquino who felt disappointed and betrayed in his previous business relationship with the Stradcom Group. Below are pertinent excerpts from the letter of Quiambao which we are printing:

“For the record, Jimmy Aquino was elected as president of Stradcom Corp. sometime early part of 2004, but he resigned relatively quite shortly thereafter because hindi daw niya kaya. Jimmy Aquino, admittedly with myself and a project development company I control to date, were the original ‘sponsors’ of the LTO IT project, and these three persons or groups established a holding company under the then financing plan for the LTO IT project that required the affirmative or unanimous vote of all three sponsors for legitimate corporate acts of the said company. However, it was Jimmy Aquino and his co-conspirators who fraudulently caused the change of this unanimous vote requirement – to my sole detriment – for which I was constrained to institute the necessary intra-corporate and criminal falsification cases against all those responsible for these acts. I continue to pursue these cases to date.

“Additionally, you may be aware of the fiasco that happened last Dec. 9, 2010, when the nationwide operations of LTO came to a complete halt for half a day because of the violent and unlawful take-over of Stradcom Corporation’s premises and building by the group of Mr. Bonifacio Sumbilla. We actually have a document linking the corporation of Jimmy Aquino as effectively having granted a proxy or authority to the said Sumbilla Group to undertake the said take-over fiasco.

“In fact, sources who refuse to came out (sic) in the open further inform us that Jimmy Aquino participated in the planning, and even instructed his corporations and/or personnel to provide technical support to the Sumbilla group for or during the said take-over incident. Given the gravity of what happened that day, perhaps you can ask Jimmy Aquino if he can in all honesty disclose his full and complete participation in those events.

“We also continue to be provided information from within the IT community that Jimmy Aquino and/or his corporations hire – if not poached – Stradcom or ex-Stradcom employees.

 “Premises considered… it would not be unreasonable for me to be the one to complain that it is I who feel deeply disappointed and betrayed by Mr. Jimmy Aquino.

“As for the reference in your article abut the loopholes, oversights or inefficiencies allegedly plaguing the current LTO IT System, we have not been privy to these particulars and will surely want the chance to see the basis of these complaints or findings so that we may be able to fairly address these or defend ourselves. While no IT system as complex as the current LTO IT system is perfect, humility aside, with relatively the same manpower complement, LTO to date is able to process thrice the volume of its transactions prior to computerization, and similarly, it had jumped from manual operations revenues of only P4 billion to now P14 billion per annum.”

Certainly, all the issues surrounding or related to the LTO IT project and the current system have to be resolved because at the end of the day, it is the riding public that will suffer the consequences. It is possible Cezar Quiambao is unaware of the disenchantment that the public as well as certain transport groups (like Piston for example) have aired regarding the services provided by Stradcom.

Even more telling is that former Transportation Secretary and now DILG Secretary Mar Roxas himself has publicly stated that the current contract with Stradcom is plagued with “loopholes and oversights” which a new contract can resolve.  One of the biggest loopholes, Roxas said, has to do with a provision allowing Stradcom to retain ownership of computer equipment that virtually makes the LTO captive since the agency cannot even access its own database without having to first pass through Stradcom.

Ultimately, the DOTC will have to quickly decide on a new provider with the credibility and capability to run the LTO IT system under terms and conditions that Mar’s successor, new DOTC chief Jun Abaya – will have to make sure is the best for the public.

PLDT boosted by credit rating upgrade

 Moody’s credit ratings upgrade for PLDT will not only boost the telecommunications firm’s position but will also give it more leeway to secure additional funding for other business opportunities. Moody’s has expressed confidence in PLDT’s ability to pursue current business plans that will boost its profitability, with the telecoms firm expecting higher profits of P42 billion by 2014.

 Manny Pangilinan has been looking at investments in neighboring countries including Myanmar and Vietnam with officials from the latter expressing their readiness to make adjustments to secure MVP investments in their country.

 But while Manny has had his disappointments and issues with the situation in the country, in the end he is still a Filipino deep inside, knowing fully well that he is a major contributor in driving the economy and generating employment and other opportunities that would help uplift the lives of Filipinos.

 Spy tidbit

 Metro Manila will most likely resemble a ghost town in the next couple of days with majority of people going home to the provinces to observe the holidays. This could only mean relatively cleaner air during the long weekend – much to the relief of old time Manila residents who prefer to stay in the metropolis and enjoy the relative peace and quiet without the stress brought on by choked streets and choking vehicle emissions.

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Email: [email protected].