MANILA, Philippines – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which sets cellphone rates, admitted that it failed to act on complaints submitted by mobile phone subscribers.

The agency has been prevented from setting the expiration and duration of cellphone loads, among other rules, after a Quezon City court order temporarily disallowed the implementation of its guidelines, an NTC official said during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

These guidelines are contained in memorandum circular 13-06-2000 which imposes rules on billing statements, call rates, and the sale and use of prepaid cards, NTC deputy commissioner Douglas Michael Millillin said during a hearing of the Senate committees on trade and commerce and public services.

The circular also covers interconnection agreements and penalties for violating its guidelines.

Pending before the court for eight years now, the case has also prevented the NTC from forcing mobile phone firms to make SIM (subscriber identity module) cards last for up to two years.

It has also prevented the agency from imposing a per second charging on calls.

Implementing the circular would bring losses for Globe Telecom Inc., the Philippines’ second-largest mobile phone firm, Caridad Gonzalez, head of the Globe Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, said during the same hearing.

Activating every SIM card – which stores a user’s mobile phone number and those of his contacts – has a carrying cost of P150 a month, she added.

Full Story: GMA News TV/Yahoo PH