Press Release
December 5, 2008

Pimentel asks CHED to report on status of P550-M call center project

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today inquired from the Commission on Higher Education about the status of its P550 million call center project.

Pimentel asked CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles to clarify reports that the call center project will be revived after it was suspended last year by his immediate predecessor, Romulo Neri, now president of the Social Security System.

The Commission on Audit found out that the public bidding for the call center project was not properly conducted, resulting in grossly disadvantageous terms for the government. Allegations of overpricing were confirmed in the COA report.

The call center project includes the construction of buildings and putting up of communications facilities in the campuses of five selected state universities and colleges.

"Who should be held accountable for the irregularities that tainted the call center project? What are the reasons for the decision to continue with the project? Pimentel asked.

He asked whether it is right for the government to put up the project supposedly for training purposes when there is now a proliferation of call centers in Metro Manila mostly put up by foreign telecommunications firms.

"As a policy, do you think the government should be in the business of building call centers instead of using scarce resources to build libraries, farmer training centers, student dormitories or faculty housing which could better achieve the mandate of state universities and colleges to provide quality education? Don't you think the business of running call centers is better left in the hands of the private sector?" Pimentel asked Chairman Angeles and other CHED officials.

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