FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 679 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 24 provides: 
"The State recognizes the vital role of communication and 
information in nation-building. " 
The arrival of the cellular phone in the early 1980s was a turning point in 
telecommunications. For the first time, people made and received telephone calls 
without being tied to a specific location. 
Cellular phones have become an essential part of many Filipino's lives 
with the number of cellular phone users increasing daily. However, cellular phone 
companies have failed to cope with the increasing demand for cellular phone 
services and the National Telecommunications Commission has received 
numerous complaints on poor services by these companies. 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish minimum standards regarding the 
quality of wireless telephone service and to monitor complaints regarding such 
service. Considering the urgency to improve the services of cellular phone 
companies, the early passage of this proposed measure is earnestly urged. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 679 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM STANDARDS REGARDING THE QUALITY OF 
WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE AND TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS 
REGARDING SUCH SERVICE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1 . Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Cell Phone 
Subscriber Protection Act." 
SEC. 2 . Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize 
the vital role of communication and information in nation-building. 
SEC. 3 . Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
(1) "Public Telecommunications Entity" or "PTE means any person, firm, 
partnership or corporation, government or private, engaged in the 
provision 
of the 
telecommunications 
services to the 
public for 
compensation. 
(2) "Commission" means the National Telecommunications Commission. 
SEC. 
4. 
Establishment 
of Standards 
Regarding 
Quality 
of 
Commercial Mobile Service and Monitoring of Complaints Regarding Such 
Service. 
(A) IN GENERAL - The Commission shall, by regulation, establish such 
requirements as the Commission considers appropriate to ensure that Public 
Telecommunications Entities meet minimum standards regarding the quality and 
performance of such 
service, which shall include standards regarding 
connection, reception, and billing practices. 
(B) COMPLAINT SYSTEM 
ESTABLISHMENT - The Commission shall establish and administer a 
system that makes available a procedure for any subscriber of a commercial 


mobile service to register a complaint regarding the quality or performance of the 
service. 
TOLL·FREE NUMBER - Such system shall include establishment of a toll-
free number applicable to commercial mobile services for reporting a complaint. 
RECORDS - The Commission shall maintain a record of each complaint 
made under the system establish pursuant to this Act. 
NOTICE - The Commission shall require each Public Telecommunications 
Entity of commercial mobile service to include, in each subscriber's bill for 
such service, a statement informing the subscriber that a complaint 
regarding the quality or performance of the service may be registered with 
the Commission and providing the toll-free number under clause (ii) and 
an address for mailing a complaint. The Commission shall take such other 
actions as may be appropriate to publicize the availability of the complaint 
system to subscribers of commercial mobile services. 
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(C) REPORTING OF COMPLAINTS TO CONGRESS - Every six (6) 
months, the Commission shall submit a report to the Congress regarding 
complaints received under the complaint system required under subparagraph 
(B), which shall (i) Indicate the number of complaints received, during the period 
for which 
the 
report is 
made, 
regarding 
the 
service of the 
Public 
Telecommunications Entity for which a complaint is made; and (ii) indicate the 
types of complaints received during such period, including complaints regarding 
dead spots, dropped calls, network busy signals, and improper billing practices, 
and the number of each type of complaint received during such period. 
Upon submission to the Congress of each report under this subparagraph, 
the Commission shall make such report publicly through publication in at least 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
D) EFFECT ON CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS - This paragraph may 
not be construed as relieving any Public Telecommunications Entities from the 
obligation to comply with any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation relating to 
consumer protection or unfair trade practices. 
(E) RULES AND REGULATIONS - The Commission shall prescribe such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the proVisions of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 6 . Repealing Clause. -Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rules or regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of the Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,