Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _2874

Authored by Hon. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution states:

“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 sought.
5

SN

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 2874

Authored by Hon. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

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 the 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.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the
State to recognize the vital role of communication and information ina
nation-building

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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 established 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 services.

(C) REPORTING OF COMPLAINTS TO CONGRESS - Every
six (6) months, the Commission shall submit a report to 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 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.


SECTION 5. Separability Cluase. - 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.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect

fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,