FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2864 
Introduced by SENATOR MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
'11 
JUN -2 P 6 :1 0 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides, "[s]cience and technology are essential for 
national development and progress." 
(Art. XIV, Sec. 10) 
And this policy measure is 
submitted with the intention of honoring the said provision. 
This legislation mandates 
"portability" in telecommunications --- where mobile telephone service providers should offer 
the option to their mobile telephone subscribers to retain their numbers even if they switch 
to another service provider or even if they switch from a mobile postpaid account to a 
mobile prepaid account and vice versa. 
The advent of technology boosts dependency to mobile telephones in dealing with everyday 
life. Mobile telephone subscribers have grown by almost 80 million by 2010. This 
remarkable number of mobile telephone consumers or subscribers valuing the cost of 
telephone service is inclined to avail of telephone service that will cater most their needs as 
valuable consumers. Unfortunately, consumers opting to have better quality of telephone 
service are often deterred of the burden of changing their number by reason of switching 
from one service provider with miserable service to a service provider with superior service 
or by reason of switching from a mobile postpaid account to a mobile prepaid account and 
vice versa. Changing the subscribers' service provider or changing the mode of mobile 
account requires changing subscriber's number. 
Parallel to the booming communication technology is the policy of the State to ensure that 
quality mobile telephone service is provided to consumers in the country. Inevitable to this 
policy is the option to provide consumers' choice in telecommunications service. The mobile 
telephone portability will provide the subscribers the option to retain their number even if 
they switch to another service provider or even if they change from a post paid account to a 
prepaid account and vice versa. Mobile telephone number portability is already available in 
some parts of Africa, Australia, and most European countries including Britain and even on 
some parts in Asia. Apparently, the Philippines is behind with these countries who opt to 
provide convenience and quality telephone service to the consumers. 
The mobile telephone number portability act shall sustain competition among service 
providers and shall ultimately promote improvement of the quality of mobile telephone 
service in the country. 
In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this urgent bill is ~tlY sought. 
MANNY ILLAR 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
,JUN -2 P 6 :1 0 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2864 
Introduced by SENATOR MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING NUMBER PORTABILITY FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Mobile Telephone Number 
Portability Act of 2011" 
Section 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 9interest of the continuously growing consumers or 
mobile telephone subscribers. In view of this, the State shall promote consumers' choice in 
telecommunications service to avail of superior services suitable to their needs thereby 
giving value to the cost of the telephone service. 
Section 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 juridical 
subscribers with mobile postpaid account andlor mobile prepaid account duly registered 
with telephone service provider. 
mean: 
Section 4. Definition of terms.-
For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
a) Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - refers to an authority issued 
by the Commission to operate a public telecommunications service based on the 
premise that the provision of said service and the authorization to do business 
will promote public interest in a proper and suitable manner. 
b) Commission - refers to the national Telecommunications Commission (NTC). 
c) Franchise - refers to the privilege conferred upon a telecommunications entity by 
Congress authorizing the said entity to engage in a certain type of 
telecommunications service. 
d) 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. 
e) 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 amount of services they have used. 
f) 
Prepaid mobile account - refers to a model of 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. 
g) Provisional Authority - refers to a temporary authority issued by the Commission 
to operate a public telecommunications service. 
Section 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 and provided 
further; that the subscriber opting to switch from a mobile prepaid account 
and vice versa has no existing liability or outstanding obligations with the 
service provider. 
Section 6. Funding Provision. - The Commission shall immediately hereinafter 
include in the Commission's programs to prompt implementation of this At, funding of which 
shall be provided for in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, orders, issuances and rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
Section 8. Separability Clause. - The provisions of this Act are hereby deemed distinct 
and separable from each other. If any provision hereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional, 
such validity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the other provisions which shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect one hundred twenty (120) days 
following its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,