Enrile denounces Globe and Smart for defying the new NTC ruling lowering the cost of mobile phone calls

Enrile denounces Globe and Smart for defying the new NTC ruling
lowering the cost of mobile phone calls

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier today denounced telecom giants Globe and Smart, for continuing to defy the National Telecommunication Commission's new memorandum circular mandating telecommunications companies to start billing cellphone users on a "per pulse" basis.

"Globe and Smart are once again trying to flex their muscles, twisting the rules for their own benefit" Enrile blasts.

Enrile was reacting to advertisements placed by Globe on major broadsheets informing their subscribers to dial 232 plus the 10-digit cellphone number for Globe subscribers, and 803 plus the 10-digit cellphone number for Touch Mobile users.

"During the committee hearing at the Senate, Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular agreed to follow the new NTC ruling. Instead, I learned that Globe is treating this as a promo, requiring their subscribers to dial a certain number together with the cellphone number, for them to be billed on a "per pulse basis."

Enrile also deplored the fact that until today, Smart has not bothered to inform its subscribers of any change in their billing scheme as expected under the agreement between the telecommunications company and the NTC.

"They will be taken to task for this defiance. This is precisely the reason why I am pushing to strengthen the regulatory powers of the NTC. These Telcos cannot be allowed to manipulate the industry for their own benefit, they are fooling the people" asserted a visibly irked Enrile.

"The NTC should not be afraid to sanction these Telcos. What these Telcos are doing is a clear disregard for consumer welfare" Enrile explained.

Enrile further said that "these Telcos must be sanctioned immediately, and they will be required to show cause why their certificates of public convenience and necessity should not be suspended or revoked."

Enrile explained that prior to the announcement of the new rates, he, together with representatives of the three telecommunications companies and the NTC, ended the committee hearing last Dec. 3 with a gentleman's agreement, with everyone acknowledging that the new rates will in fact make for a healthy and competitive atmosphere that will benefit not just the consuming public, but the Telcos themselves.

"The Telcos keep on hiding behind the cloak of "technical difficulties", and this must end. Hanggang kailan na lang natin papayagan ang mga 'yan na magrason ng "technical difficulty" tuwing may pinapairal kaming batas na mapapakinabangan ng taong bayan"? Enrile asks.

"The law must be followed, otherwise we will all be slaves to the whims and fancies of these power-hungry companies. Kawawa naman ang taong bayan!" Enrile added.

Enrile commends Sun Cellular for being the first telecommunications company to comply with the new "per pulse" billing scheme.

Instead of charging every 6 seconds by default as ruled by the NTC, Enrile said the 2 companies are "twisting the rules" by requiring customers to enter a prefix to avail of the per-pulse billing system.   Press release here http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2009/1209_enrile2.asp

Globe, Smart scored for defying new billing scheme  

 

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