Mobile number portability pushed

A senator has called on Malacañang to certify as urgent a measure allowing mobile phone users to easily transfer to other network providers without changing their preferred phone numbers.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is pitching for a nationwide mobile number portability system that would give consumers the freedom to choose and respond to quality, price and other relevant considerations without changing their mobile numbers — whether postpaid or prepaid — when they switch service providers.

“If it’s really the government’s priority to fix the telecommunications industry in the country, the President would need to certify this bill first,” he added.

The measure, which he filed two weeks ago, is pending second reading approval. —Jocelyn R. Uy