Question & AnswerQ&A (IRR of Republic Act No. 11202)
The purpose of RA 11202 is to allow mobile postpaid or prepaid subscribers in the Philippines to retain their existing mobile numbers when switching from one mobile service provider to another, provided they have no existing financial obligations with the Donor Provider.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is the government entity mandated to implement nationwide MNP, coordinating with other agencies like the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Privacy Commission.
The Donor Provider (DP) is the mobile service provider to whose network the mobile number belongs at the time the subscriber submits a porting application.
Qualifications include: having no outstanding financial obligations with the DP, being the assignee of the mobile number used in an unlocked device, a lapse of 60 calendar days from the date of activation of the ported number, no pending transfer requests, no court prohibitions, and not being blacklisted due to fraudulent activities.
The porting process must be completed within forty-eight (48) hours from submission of the porting application to the activation of the ported number, excluding the time given to settle outstanding obligations.
Penalties include fines starting at PHP 40,000 for initial unjust refusal after mediation, increasing to PHP 100,000 to PHP 300,000 for repeated instances, and fines up to PHP 1,000,000 plus revocation of franchise for fifth and subsequent violations.
No fees or charges shall be collected from applicants or subscribers for Mobile Number Portability services as stated in the IRR.
The MNPSP processes porting applications, maintains the number portability database, activates ported numbers, ensures confidentiality and data security, facilitates coordination between Donor and Recipient Providers, and maintains uninterrupted quality service.
The Cutover Period is the date and time when a subscriber who has submitted a porting application will have no mobile telecommunications service while the porting process is being completed, which shall not exceed four (4) hours.
The DP must notify the Recipient Provider and the applicant of the outstanding obligation. The applicant has three (3) working days to settle the debt. Upon full payment, clearance is transmitted to the RP. If unpaid after three days, the application is rejected.