FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE,.. 
Senate Bill No. OJ 1 0 3 
Introduced by Senator Laeson 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The advances continuously made in the mobile telephone industry have resulted 
in an increasing demand for a better and more efficient mobile phone service. The top 
service providers in the country have grown more competitive throughout the years in 
their quest to dominate the mobile market. As mobile phones are now considered more 
of a necessity rather than a mere accessory, the number of mobile phone subscriptions 
in the country has already ballooned to almost 80 million by 2010. 
This growing dependency on our mobile phones makes it ideal if a subscriber 
can maintain the same mobile number even if one changes his/her service provider 
since this will eliminate the hassle that comes with having a new mobile number. 
Unfortunately, in our current mobile network set-up, this type of service is not available. 
This is precisely the situation that this bill seeks to address. 
This bill aims to resolve this matter by introducing the concept of Mobile 
Telephone Number Portability (MTNP) in the country. This type of system basically 
provides mobile subscribers the option to keep their old mobile number in the event that 
they change their service providers, or shift from prepaid to postpaid or vice versa. 
MTNP has already been the practice in some parts of Europe, Africa, Australia, and 
even in some of our Asian neighbors. There is no reason why the same convenience 
and choice should not be made available to Filipino consumers. Another significant 
feature of this bill is the economic benefit proVision wherein subscribers who will be 
covered by this measure will enjoy a uniform rate for all calls and text messaging 
services whether within the same network or between two different networks. 
The MTNP Act will only serve to improve the level of service being offered by the 
different network providers operating in the country. More importantly, the millions of 
Filipino subscribers will now enjoy the ease and convenience of maintaining their mobile 
number should they decide to do so. 
In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
PANFI'~red~~ 
t~n';tor 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENAT~ 
Senate Bill No. v 1 0 3 
Introduced by Senator Lacson 
AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING NUMBER PORTABILITY FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This act shall be known as the "Mobile Telephone Number 
Portability Act of 2012." 
Sec.2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to ensure and promote public 
interest and convenience in the country. The remarkable growth of mobile telephone 
subscribers connotes telecommunications as an inevitable public service needing 
reasonable regulation to promote the interest of the continuously growing consumers or 
mobile telephone subscribers. 
In view of this, the State shall promote consumers' 
choice in telecommunications services to avail of superior services suitable to their 
needs thereby giving value to the cost of the telephone service. 
Sec. 3. Applicability. The provisions in this act shall apply to all mobile telephone 
service providers who are holders of a franchise and has secured a certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) or Provisional Authority (PA) from the National 
Telecommunications Commission (NTC). 
The option of telephone number portability may be availed of by natural or artificial 
subscribers with mobile postpaid account and/or mobile prepaid account duly registered 
with the telephone service provider. 
Sec.4. Definition of Terms. 
CommisSion - refers to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - refers to an authority issued by the 
Commission to operate a public telecommunications service based on the promise that 
the proviSion of said service and the authorization to do business will promote public 
interest in a proper and suitable manner. 
Franchise - refers to privilege conferred upon a telecommunications entity by Congress 
authorizing the said entity to engage in a certain type of telecommunications service. 
Mobile Telephone Number Portability - refers to the ability to transfer an existing mobile 
telephone number assigned by a telephone service provider to another service provider. 


Provisional Authority -
refers a temporary authority issued by the Commission to 
operate a public telecommunications service. 
Postpaid Mobile Account - refers to a model of mobile telephone service whereby the 
customers or subscribers are charged for usage in the prior month. It is an account for 
which customers or subscribers are billed for their use of a service provider services on 
a monthly basis based on either the terms of a contract or on the amount of services 
they have used. 
Prepaid Mobile Account - refers to a model of a mobile telephone service whereby 
customers or subscribers are required to add a certain amount to their accounts prior to 
usage and their maximum usage is limited to the amount that is added to the account. 
It is an account for which credit is purchased in advance of service use. 
Sec. 5. Mobile Telephone Number Portability. The Commission shall require all 
mobile telephone service providers to provide consumers or mobile telephone 
subscribers the option to retain their numbers in the following events: 
a. Switching from one service provider to another: Provided, that the subscriber has 
duly registered his name and mobile telephone number with the originating 
service provider; and Provided further, that the subscriber opting to switch to 
another mobile service provider has no existing liability or outstanding obligations 
with the originating service provider. 
b. Switching from a mobile postpaid account to a mobile prepaid account and vice 
versa: Provided, that the subscriber has duly registered his name and mobile 
telephone number with the service provider; Provided further, that the subscriber 
opting to switch from a mobile postpaid account to a mobile prepaid account and 
vice versa has no existing liability or outstanding obligations with the service 
provider. 
Sec. 6. Economic Benefit Provision. All mobile service providers are mandated to 
impose a uniform rate for all calls and text messaging services, whether within the same 
network or between two different networks, for all subscribers who will avail of the 
option provided under this Act. 
Sec. 7. Funding Provision. The Commission shall immediately hereinafter include in 
the Commission's programs the prompt implementation of this Act, funding of which 
shall be provided for in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part of the provision of this Act is hereby declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All law, executive orders, decrees, rules and regulations, 
or any part thereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are deemed repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect one hundred twenty (120) days 
following its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,