Almost there
The ability to retain one number even if you switch networks is one step closer to reality, as Senate Bill 1636, or the “Lifetime Cellphone Number Act” by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has passed the senate.
The bill if passed into law will require telcos to provide their customers with “mobile number portability (MNP),” which essentially allows them to retain whatever number that they’re currently using even if they move from one provider to another, to one plan to another (pre-paid to post paid, and vice-versa).
The bill also looks to penalize telcos that delay, withhold or refuse the transfer of the number to the service that the customer wishes to use up to 1 million pesos or the total revocation of their franchises.
“For every failure to comply with, or for every instance of violation of any provision of this Act, the PTE shall pay a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) up to Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) for the first offense, and a fine of not less than Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (P400,000.00) up to Six Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P600,000.00) for the second offense. In case of a subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos (P700,000.00) up to One Million Pesos (P 1,000,000.00) and revocation of the PTE’s franchise to operate.”
The senate and congressional versions of the bill will now be combined in a bicameral conference committee before it’s sent to the president for his approval and enactment into law.
