Lawmaker cites pros, cons of Mobile Number Portability Act’s IRR

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday said that it would have been a “major win” for mobile consumers if there were less grounds to reject applications for mobile network portability.

“The IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) is not without flaws. It would have been a major win for consumers had there been less grounds to reject applications for mobile number portability,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

Still, Gatchalian lauded the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)  for drafting  “consumer-friendly” rules and regulations, “especially in specifying the prerequisites for porting, and the terms of the time periods for cutover and the porting process itself, among others.”

“Nevertheless, we thank the NTC for the speedy issuance of the Mobile Number Portability Act’s IRR. With this, mobile number portability is finally within the reach of every Filipino,” he said.

“After all, we want to encourage consumers to avail this service, especially when they feel they are not getting the service they deserve from their respective networks,”  he added.

Gatchalian is the author of the Mobile Number Portability Act, which would enable subscribers to keep their mobile number even if they switch to another service provider.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the measure into law in February.

READ: Duterte signs into law Lifetime Cellphone Number Act

In the IRR released by the NTC, subscribers who have outstanding debt, locked devices or seeking to again switch less than 60 days after a ported number has been activated, and who have been blacklisted due to fraudulent activities will not be covered by the mobile network portability law.

The NTC added that the IRR of the law would become effective on July 2.    (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)

READ: NTC issues mobile number portability guidelines