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Senate approves ‘Lifetime Cellphone Number’ bill

Consumers no longer have to worry from changing their service provider or their subscription plans after the Senate approved on third and final reading on Monday, February 19, the bill that will allow Filipinos to keep their mobile phone numbers for life.

Authored by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs, the Senate Bill No. 1636 or the proposed “Lifetime Cellphone Number Act” garnered 20 affirmative votes and zero negative votes, reported Manila Bulletin.

The bill requires the public telecommunication entities (PTE) in the country to provide consumers with mobile number portability (MNP).

The MNP is the ability of the consumer to jump from one service provider to another, or from change their subscription from prepaid to postpaid plans, or vice versa, while maintaining his or her existing mobile phone numbers.

The bill will also allow the consumers to choose the service provider that offers the best customer service, network coverage, and quality of service.

Telecommunication entities are mandated to give sufficient and relevant information to all subscribers on application requirements and porting process in availing the MNP.

A fine of up to P1 million, or a total revocation of their operating franchises will be imposed to telecommunication entities who would delay, withhold, refuse or otherwise not deliver the benefits of MNP to a mobile subscriber within “24 hours from the time such subscriber completed his or her porting application.”

The bill includes amendment by Senator Panfilo Lacson which would remove “inter-connectivity fees” when texting or calling across different network providers.

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