Duterte urged to certify lifetime cellphone number bill as urgent

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the bill that would allow users to retain their existing mobile numbers even if they choose to move to other network providers.

Gatchalian said the proposed Lifetime Cellphone Number Act should be enacted so that the problem in the telecommunications industry is addressed not only from the side of the network providers, but also the consumers as well. 

“This would actually reinforce government’s campaign to break the existing duopoly in the telco industry. Kung tunay ngang prayoridad ng pamahalaan na maayos ang telco sa bansa, isa ito sa unang dapat sertipikahan ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

“We need to understand that the problem should be approached on both ends. On the one hand, you open the field and encourage participation from other players. On the other, you give your consumers the flexibility on which service they want without losing their digital identity,” Gatchalian added.

Earlier this week, Malacañang said President Duterte wants the third telco player to start providing its services to consumers by the first quarter of 2018.

Once it starts operations in the Philippines, the Chinese firm will go up against telco giants Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom. China Telecom Corporation Limited has been chosen by the Chinese government to invest in the Philippines’ telco industry.

“The third player is a great welcome. Pag dumami ang players, mas darami ang serbisyo. Bababa ang presyo, at sisigla ang kompetisyon. Panalo tayong mga konsyumer doon,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian said his proposal will allow users to "easily transfer network providers without changing their preferred mobile numbers."

He said telecommunication carriers will be compelled to offer better deals as a result of shifting network preferences, giving consumers the freedom to choose the services they need. — RSJ, GMA News