Permanent Mobile Number, Approved by Duterte

How would you like to keep the same mobile number you’ve had for years? Wouldn’t that be a treat? No more hassle of memorizing a new number; you won’t go through the hassle of sending messages to all of your contacts about your new number, and so on.

Permanent Mobile Number Act
Image was taken from Bloomberg | Bloomberg.com

In other countries in the West like Canada and the United States of America, they can port their numbers in to other carriers or providers if they wish to do so. In our country, however, that’s yet to be approved until last year, when the House of Representatives approved House Bill 7652 or also known as the Mobile Number Portability bill.

Read: Third Telco Service to be the Cheapest, Promises Chavit Singson

What is the Mobile Number Portability bill?

House Bill 7652 or the Mobile Number Portability bill talks about people being able to provide nationwide mobile number portability to all subscribers who qualify for it. More so, this should be free of charge. Telecommunication companies who will be caught disobeying may be fined to up to P1 million. Furthermore, they can have their licenses of providing telecommunication services to be revoked.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is tasked to deal with the implementation of the provisions of these laws concerning telcos and how the networks work in the whole country.

Permanent mobile number approved
Image was taken from CNN Philippines | cnnphilippines.com

Good news! Just yesterday, news broke out that our dear President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the permanent mobile number act. This act will allow consumers and subscribers to keep their mobile numbers in the event that they decide to switch carriers or providers or if they plan on changing their subscription plans.

Last February 8, 2019, the Mobile Number Portability Act was signed. As per the document, this act:

Fosters the freedom to choose and to respond to quality, price, and other relevant considerations.”

So, telcos should prepare on the following weeks to months because people might transfer from one carrier or provider to another since they can now change providers and keep the same number they’ve had.

Read: Clark, to Have the First 5G City in the Philippines to be Built by PLDT

According to the act, Telecommunications companies should allow their subscribers and consumers to have a hold of their numbers and to transfer it to a different provider “free of charge.”

What is porting?

Porting a number is the same as transferring. For example, porting your number out from one provider and in to another carrier. So, it’s like you are changing your services, your subscriptions, but you will be able to keep the same number.

Just to let you know, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) reported that they had 58 million subscribers at the end of September 2018. Globe Telecom, on the other hand, also reported the number of subscribers and/or users and had a mile from PLDT, having 74.1 million clients nearing the end of September 2018.

As per the NTC, the process of porting in and out should not take more than forty-eight (48) hours if a number will be ported out from one carrier, and in to another. It should be done flawlessly and without extra fees and charges.

Is there a penalty if providers fail to abide by these regulations?

As we mentioned above, last September, the NTC said that carriers may be fined and have their licenses revoked if they don’t follow the rules. This time around, it’s technically the same thing as NTC emphasized that a fine of up to P1 million is at hand. More so, telco firm’s franchise are also at the risk of being revoked.

Read: Google Station Brings Free Wi-Fi to the Philippines

However, the fine and the revocation would take effect if they operate their wrong ways for the fifth to the following instances if the mobile number portability is deemed as unjustifiable and refused even after observation and mediation.

The National Telecommunications Commission, together with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), the National Privacy Commission (NPC), and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), is working hand-in-hand to craft the implementing rules and regulations of the laws concerning the network and the mobility of our country.

What do you think about this act? Would this be helpful in terms of mobility and the recurring laws that revolve around using mobile phones in the country? Hopefully, this law gets taken seriously and that our country will be more effective in terms of communication.

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81 thoughts on “Permanent Mobile Number, Approved by Duterte”

  1. Its good.coz your number its under your name.so thats we can lessen or stip the mobile scammers….you can trace easily.same in other country.

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    • No more promotion and say you won a million or budol budol case they can records the name and impormation of all subscription, but i hope this is protect as for invasion are identity, and will not be watch by other’s.

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      • Finally… sim cards must be registered by users para madaling matrace whether they use it on good or bad… thanks Mr. President. Job well done. Keep it up

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    • Yes thats really good i hope soon mobile number will also be connected to a coming national ID of a filipino cetizens so that its easy to trace by the authority if someone will do criminal cases,scammers and etc.Just like in saudi arabia they have only one ID and its all connected to every transactions you will do inside the kingdom.

      Reply
  2. it is by consumers choice,ok yan..pero considering na ang telcos are identified thru network prefix (e.g 0948 tnt/smart and 0916 globe/tm) medyo may butas to,kasi papano ung gusto mo mag switch from smart to globe pero taken na yung kaparehong number mo other network?
    di mo din naman pwede ikeep yung pefix mo kasi identification yan ng network,di pwedeng 0948 parin pefix mo paglilipat ka sa globe.

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    • Ganun pa rin ang number “as is” magpapalit lang ng provider. Ang kagandahan kasi nito di na puedeng kumuha ng sim card kung walang valid document ang kukuha. Pansin ko kasi parang ang dali magpalit ng sim sa pinas kasi nga kahit sa kalsada may nagbebenta. At pag nawala naman ang cp and sim, ipa block then kunin ang same number sa provider

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      • Tama ka poh…😔…mas Ok sana kung naka register na talaga ang mga #s. At hindi na basta basta na bibili sa mga daan lang na hindi mareregister…
        Kagaya dito sa uae naka register lahat ng number na gamit moh…kaya madali lang ma trace ang mga crimen at wlang budol2x or scam na basta basta nlang sumusulpot…

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    • I think, ang prefix magbabago. Yung number lng ang hindi. Like if ang number mo is 0918-1234457 yung 1234567 lng ang pwede ma port.

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      • sana nga.. kasi un prefix basis mo kung ano network tatawagan mo… this is impt for unlicalls for certain networks

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        • Globe and Smart should up their game. unlicall/unlitxt to all networks regardless of the promo. just like in other countries, no need to search for the network of the prefix you are trying to contact.

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      • I think lahat ng number will be porter like here in South Korea, if one decided to change the provider, same number p rin –all, not just certain digits.

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    • Mattransfer lahat ng number mo. Bali mawawala na yung prefix natin. This is good however ang medyo mHirap nyan is wala taung identifier if globe amart or mislatel xa. 😉 if maccharge if tatawag ka sa ibang network which di mo na alam kung anong network na xa. Hehehe malalaman mo nalang pag ubos na load mo or ask mo xa bago tawagan heheeh

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    • Ok lang ho yan , hindi nmn importante kahit anong telco ka ang importante gumagana ang sim card. Ang i re raise na concern lang siguro ay dapat kahit globe smart o anu pa man yang provider dapat pareho ang charge pag tumawag o mag text . Maganda ho kasi yan para maidentify ang mga nanloloko at kung sino ang tumawag o nag text sa kung kinakailangan.

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      • Bukod sa prefix, may ibang way to identify a mobile number’s carrier.. Oo mahihirapan lang tayo malaman kung globe ba or smart ung tinatawagan mo pero this is technically possible.. hindi mag babago number mo.. lilipat lang talaga ng provider.. Most likely magkakaroon na to ng nga unli calls to all networks

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    • Agree. And the call charges may be affected since some postpaid line only have unlicall to the network that they belong. If one number switch to other telcos, one will incur call charges fir the call services that they knew that it’s free and unlimited

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    • The prefix should remain the same I guess. So there will be no carriers who would own the specific prefix. Same on how it works in the US

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    • P’wede ‘yan, katulad ng sa ibang bansâ. Búong number (09xx-123-4567)ang ililipat, hindî lang ang hulìng 7 digits. Ang magiging effect lang ay hindî na malalaman kung anò ang provider mo báse sa first 4 digits.

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    • “papano ung gusto mo mag switch from smart to globe pero taken na yung kaparehong number mo other network?” – paano maging taken?

      “di mo din naman pwede ikeep yung pefix mo kasi identification yan ng network,di pwedeng 0948 parin pefix mo paglilipat ka sa globe.” – by default lang naman yung prefix identification, kung lilipat na ng network hindi na kailangan palitan yung prefix. you get to keep your number intact.

      Reply
  3. nice one— its like here in Singapore..,, thus it is easily traced when used illegally. This will hugely help the men in Uniform during investigations to any crimes if utilized. Hoping also that the National ID System will be passed in to Law…—-

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  4. Mas maganda kung ireregister din kung sino ang may-ari ng number for security of everyone…para malaman agad kung sino yung mga nanloloko gamit ang madaming number

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  5. This is helpful for the good citizen but to the crooked they’re surely look for a ways they can get out of trouble themselves. People have different intentions interest it’s just like smartmaric machine they said it’s a good one, but is it really good? To the pure no worries but to the unscrupulous brains they will look for a way to for selfish desires. So who will really benefited this? I may say that people of the Philippines must have God in their heart to keep them right heart and attitude towards the every human being. No people can do good apart from God. People born sinners, they need God to make them righteous.

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    • Hindi yan on the telcos side na yan kasi sistema na yan i coconfigure nalang yan medyo technical pero I know walang magiging problema yan for the good yan kaya ma iimplement yan 🙂

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      • On telco side madaming adjustment yan. Ang magkakaron ng problem jan ay yung mga subscriber. Tama ka magkakaron ng unnecessasry charges kasi di ka na sure if yung tinatawagan or tinetext mo is same network kau. Malalaman mo nalang if ubos na load mo or for postpaid anlaki na ng bill mo.

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        • I think before calling the person whom you want to speak with, we ask them? Hheheheh since everyone nsa contact mo unless d mo kilala. Right 🙂

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        • I think it is the other way around, since mawawala na ang prefix network identifier then subscribing to unlicalls and texts may not only be specific to one network just like in the US.

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  6. Tama po yan..like dito sa Brunei after mo makabili ng simcard need pa muna iparegister under your name which lahat ng details sa identification card ay kelangan..para walang makakapanloko gamit ang CP kc mattrace talaga kung sino ang owner ng number…

    Reply
  7. Pano naman yung mga postpaid user? After the contract what will happen kung ayaw muna sa postpaid, coconvert ba nila yung sim to prepaid? wala kasing nabanggit sa article? Salamat sa sagot.

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  8. Good luck sa mga NPA at mga scammers jan! Hihirit na nmn dito ang Human rights advocates kasi labag sa karapatan yan para sa kanila. Ayaw nga nila sa National ID system. Pero, here in europe, passport or residence ID muna bago ka bigyan ng SIM under ur name.

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  9. Nice! Pero mas maganda kung pati ung interconnection charges ng mga networks maalis din tulad sa USA walang interconnection charges kung tatawag ka sa bang network o landline based phones.

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  10. Sana lang.. yung provincial rate ang alisin iparehas nalang sa manila kasi mas malaki pa nga pamasahe sa probinsya please lang

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  11. Eh di dapat di na dino wala na naeexpire na sim.
    loadan mo mab ito o hindi. tanggalin na nla ung expiration ng sim dahil sa matagal na di naloloadan.

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  12. Telcos will now try to be more efficient in every service they provide. Or else the subscriber will just jump from one telco to another.

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  13. Mas mainam if before proceeding to my number portability, mairegister muna ang mga directory number sa mga mismong gumagamit. Magkaroon ng tamang pag rehistro ang mga mobile sa dapat May tamang edad at Tamang documentations. Para maiwasan ang mga panloloko sa telepono. Kung ang mga bata ay menor de edad, dapat ang mga Sims na gamit nila ay naka rehistro sa pangalan ng guardian at May tamang documentation sa pagbili ng sim.
    Ang mahirap kasi Kung saan saan nalang tayo nakakakuha ng sim, mura nga pero Hindi rehistrado. Kaya Kung May mga panlolokong mangyari Hindi na natin alam saan nag mula.
    Sana mabago ang proseso.

    Kagaya sa Middle East ang lahat ng numero ay registrado. Kaya walang panloloko.

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    • Tama po kayo jan mam… Lahat ng gagamit, dapat may id ir personal info na mairehistro para mastop na ang mga manlolokong tao sa pinas!

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  14. Dapat dyan ay magstart na tayong gumamit ng 3 area codes (Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao= Province kumbaga) at hindi company prefixes para kahit lumipat ka ay d na papalitan first 3-4 digits ng number mo.
    More efficient at mas magkakaroon ng magandang competitions ang mga network providers to improve their offers. Let’s see kung sino ang mas maunang magoffer.

    Reply
  15. An excellent move. It would be easy to trace scammer. Block unwanted calls. Is this law will allow people calling or texting different mobile carriers without a premium fee?

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  16. Maganda rin po ganyan para po, yung mga scamer matrace agad kung kanino number yun! Kasi maraming manloloko at marami narin naloloko dahil sa mga manloloko na yan! Approved ako jan sir President!

    Reply
  17. Dapat mga net provider lng nabibilhan ng simcard wala na sa labas and kpg bumili ng simcard kailangan iregister under sa buyers name limited sa 1 lng para sa isang tao. And dpt irequire ang 2 valid gov id’s before you can buy simcard like sa ibang bansa. And to make it possible lahat ng simcard ngyn na gngmit na ay ideactivate muna till maregister ng mga users para mapush ang mga users na iregister tlga..

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  18. Ganyan nmn sa ibang bansa. Ako nasa NZ simula dumating ako iisa lang naging number ko. Kahit 2x ng nawala sim ko. Bili ka.lang ng bagong sim tapos pwede nilang ipasok ung lumang namber mo dun sa sim. Then ung number mo sa ibang network.pwede.mong dalhin sa kabila as is. Plus to sa.mga providers kasi ung iba ayaw magpalit ng numbers kaya ayaw lumipat ng provider kahit gusto na nila kasi hassle maginform sa contacts na nagpalit na ng number lalo na kung pangbusiness ung number.

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  19. It should have been done long time ago.
    It is good to have your own permanent mobile number connected to passport, national ID etc and other personal individual information which will help us to track or trace whoever did anything illegal using the number.

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  20. It is not good! It is the best ever happened in telecommunication industry, which should be long time ago. Why do we need to change our number every time we go home? And if need to retain your number, you must load Pesos 200 every month. Now, no more robbing from us (little ones), big companies! Else you will pay 1 million pesos only.
    Thanks a lot President Rodrigo Duterte. God bless you always.

    Reply
  21. Same in Singapore 🇸🇬 isang ID lang all it takes never ka makakabili ng sim without National ID or IC (Identification) permanent. Kung mawala report lang same number paren bbgyan ka ng new sim sa oarehong number na naka rehistro intiendes? Oarang sa Singapore SturHub kumbaga Smart HiCard nmn kung Globe you can buy two sim two network two registration sa iisang oangalan na nakarehistro kay Juan Dela Cruz. Ginaya sa Singapore 🇸🇬

    Reply
    • kagaya dito sa saudi if you call other network may dalawang beep sound ka maririnig bago mag ring pero kong same network direct na mag ring

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  22. Maganda to tataty digong kasi kagay ko yong number naka lista na sa lahat na mga dokumento ko sa mga valid id government and private. Kailna ba ang effectivity nito kasi last year di pa nag take effect ito na law?

    Reply
  23. Para sa prepaid naman yang sinasabi mo. Pag postpaid hindi uubra to, kahot anong network i dial mo walang warning yan lulusot tawag mo. Additional charge mangyayari kung nala unli ka to same network.

    Reply
  24. Ayos toh prang dto s dubai at sa ibang bansa.. kht prepaid ka need m magpresent ng valid ID pra mabgyan ka ng sim..at every yr or every 2yrs need m ng irenew dhl kung hnd mwwlan ka ng connectionm..isa pa pra iwas scam at manloloko.. galing tlga ni duterte..:) sana sa susunod president Du30 ung MRT at LRT magkaron nrin ng timings pra hnd nagkakagulo at napupuno ang train at naguunahan

    Reply
    • Wow same here po dto sa oman ndi basta basta makapag loko nang sim card dahil naka register ang id card dito kahit ilang years mu siang gamitin active pa rin sia unless paclose lang chaka na sia block nun.. d tulad sa pinas every week at puedeng magpalit nang sim kaloka😁😓 thank you po tatay digong god bless you always im agree para sa bagong idea mu galing mu talaga🌹 love you po❤😘🙏🙏🙏

      Reply
  25. Oh yeah!!! Gusto ko to.. at pra mas mabilis ma identify . Lalo na sa mga modus ngayon. .mag unli kana lng since wla naman charge ng extra. Haha 😆

    Reply
    • The Honorable President Duterte. Two years ago I was about a month and a half in the Philippines. In Panpanga. The wireless communication with Israel was terrible and expensive and not practical, and I couldn’t talk to my friends and family I had a hard time with it … I hope the matter has been addressed since.

      Reply
  26. I think it would be much better to have that. That way, the telcos would now have to make the calls and text services unlimited. Parang dito sa amin sa Australia. The calls and texts services are unlimited within Australia, but the plan differs. I used to subscribe with Vodafone, but I transferred to Telstra. Naiba lang yung mobile phone plan ko but still the call and text service is unlimited within the country. Sana ganun din jan sa Pilipinas so that it will be accessible to everyone and di na mapamahal ang mga tao.

    Reply
  27. This is a great law. We will know who the number belongs to. As for the prefix, it should also be ported and should jot depend on the telco. However, this is not our problem to fix or solve. This is a problem for the telco and for sure they can find a way for this. Good job!

    Reply
  28. This is already implemented in KSA & other middle east countries long ago. This gives many advantages in terms of mobile network usage and convenience. It will also give safety surveillance against illegal activities of illegal parties or persons.

    Reply
  29. Maganda yan, same here in Middle East naka registered yung Name mo, Labour Card sa Number na gamit mo, pero kung sa pilipinas to gagawin, daming mag rereact nito, dahil mostly Filipino people na immune na sa namulatan nilang law. Cgurado magraraly nanaman ang mga cum laude about this issue.

    Reply
  30. Iisang Sim na lang gagamitin hindi babmagastos sa load yan.?.pano kung globe ang gamit na sim tapos tatawagan mo is smart ubos ang load nyan..What if mag issue ng Permanent Sim para sa lahat den ang benefits unli call and unli text to all networks para sa permanent sim at iregister at marecognize na wala na globe and smart subscribers ..Maganda din kasi para madaling mahuli ang gagawa ng crimen

    Reply
  31. This is GOOD NEWS your the best Pres. DUTERTE I don’t have worry I have smart no way back 2005 brought to Israel and this no is been my no to all my transactions… But now mobilesimcard is getting smaller and smaller and wish to keep this no is it possible to get new simcard ( nano Sim) with Sim no, plan to go to back to Philippines in 4 months time,, thank you

    Reply

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