HIS father revitalized the capitolun Misamis Oriental Telephone System (Misortel) in the ’90s. Now, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano would shut it down, or sell the company–in case he finds a taker willing to buy an indebted and ailing firm with obsolete technology and facilities, and without a franchise.
Not only is Misortel losing money, it is also saddled with debts amounting to over P200 million.
Emano said Misortel has lost clients, its system has not been upgraded, and it has lost cables.
Mismanagement, which Emano blamed on his predecessor, also factored in Misortel’s losses. Emano has been governor since 2013 and since that year, has been serving as chairman of the Misortel board.
The option, he said, would be to close down Misortel because rehabilitating and upgrading its facilities would be very costly.
“Alkanse ang kinitaan matag-bulan,” he said.
“Sakit kaayo bation tungod kay akong amahan ang nagsugod sa Misortel. Usa kini sa pinaka–modernong telepono sa Pilipinas kaniadto. Apan pagka-human niya pagka-gobernador ug ang nagsunod wala niya atimana og gipasagdan,” Emano said.
His father, Vicente, was succeeded by Ruthie Guingona who briefly served as governor. The elder Emano’s protégé, Antonio Calingin, followed, serving for two three-year office terms. Calingin was then succeeded by Oscar Moreno, now Cagayan de Oro’s mayor.
The younger Emano said the capitol could no longer afford to infuse fresh funds to keep the Misortel going.
But Emano said a group has expressed interest to buy Misortel from the capitol. He did not identify the prospective buyer.
The capitol has another problem–Misortel’s franchise has expired.
“Kung magkasinabot na sa presyo. Una bayaran ang utang then ang subra ihatag nato nga benepisyo ngadto sa mga empleyado sa Misortel nga gaetiro na,” he said.
Some of Misortel’s employees have already been detailed to the capitol but about 90 others have yet to be absorbed.
Emano said the capitol would not be able to absorb all of Misortel’s employees that would be displaced but he assured that all concerns would be addressed.
He said Misortel was already losing funds when he assumed as governor in 2013, and so he immediately stopped giving alloances to members of the company’s board.
The board is chaired by the governor and its members include Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez and members of the provincial board.
Emano said he also tasked two groups to look into Misortel’s operations and make assessments, and their recommendation was for the capitol to sell the company.
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