Republic of the Philippines 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.___ 
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A reconnection fee is intentionally made significantly to deter late payments and 
encourage customers to pay their bills within the grace period mandated. 
Nonetheless, there are cases where our low-income customers-subscribers have 
established their inability to pay their bills in full and on time. (Allow staggered 
bill payments). 
We must fully understand and make every effort to accommodate the financial 
limitations of our marginalized customers-subscribers. We have to comply with 
the directives, but we also have to be fair to our paying customers-subscribers. 
This House Bill seeks to streamline and uphold the protection and interests of 
the consumers-subscribers, foster general welfare and to establish fair standards 
of conduct for all business and industry. 
Towards this end, the State shall implement measures to achieve these noble 
objectives. 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D. 
July 1, 2022 
11:16 am
830


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
    Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING ALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY (SERVICE 
PROVIDER) TO CHARGE AND COLLECT RECONNECTION FES, 
TO FOSTER CONSUMER-SUBSCRIBER PROTECTION, PROVIDING 
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY - it is hereby a declared policy 
of the state to: 
a. Uphold the interests of the consumers;
b. Foster the general welfare and create justifiable standards of protocol
for all business and industries;
c. Safeguard against all forms of deception, unfair and unethical practices
and schemes;
d. Promote the proper implementation of the rights of the consumer- 
subscriber; and
e. Accelerate the imposition of all existing policies and guidelines of the
RA7394 (Consumer act of the Philippines).
SECTION 2. PROHIBITING THE COLLECTION OF RECONNECTION 
FEES: 
830


a. All telecommunications company / service provider shall be prohibited 
from charging and collecting reconnection fees; 
b. This prohibition shall apply to all postpaid subscriptions under a 
service contract, regardless of the duration of its contract; and 
c. This prohibition shall apply regardless of the tenure of the contract 
consummated by the subscriber. 
SECTION 3. PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS: 
For every violation of this act; or for every failure to comply with; 
The Telecommunications company/ Service provider shall pay a fine of not less 
than Two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) for the first offense; a fine 
of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) for the second 
offense. 
I case of subsequent offenses; 
The penalty shall be a fine of not less than One million pesos 
(Php1,000,000.00), and revocation of the franchise to operate. 
SECTION 4. TRANSITORY PROVISION - Existing industries, businesses 
and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given six (6) 
months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other period as 
may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 5. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS - The 
departments and agencies charged, to be led by the Bureau of Communication 
Services (BCS) of the PCOO, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the 
National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) with carrying out the provisions 
of this Act, shall within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate 
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 


SECTION 6. REPEALING CLAUSE - All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 7. -SEPARABILITY CLAUSE - If, for anv reason, any section or 
provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or 
provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 8. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE - This Act shall take effect after 
fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,