Mandatory registration for all cell phones being proposed

Owners of mobile phones will soon have to register their units and pay a P150 fee for each phone.

A new circular from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) requires all cell-phone manufacturers, dealers and users to register their units.

The circular, which is up for public hearing, came about after the NTC found that an earlier draft circular requiring all cell phones being sold to have tamper-proof stickers did not solve prevalent problems like smuggling, terrorism, theft and text spamming attributed to mobile-phone use.

Efren R. Cabanlig, NTC director for Radio Regulations & Licensing Division, said it was proposed that a new circular must consider not only the administrative concerns, but the effect on the use of cell phones as well.

The new draft circular, titled “Rules and Regulations for the Registration of Mobile Phones,” aims to monitor and control the legal entry and sources of mobile phones and regulate their importation, sale, purchase, possession and ownership.

As of last year there were about 40 million mobile-phone subscribers in the country.

Under the draft circular, before imported phones are released from the Bureau of Customs, they must be first registered with the NTC. The importer must submit an accomplished application form, a copy of the permit to import, bill of lading and packing list, international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), maker/type/model/serial number and pay of corresponding registration fee.

Cell-phone owners, on the other hand, should submit an accomplished application form, IMEI number, maker/type/model/serial number and pay the registration fee.

Mobile phones used by minors should be registered by their parent or guardian, while individuals using company-issued phones are responsible for registration.

End-users are required to activate their phones by providing verifiable information to the blank information fields in the application interface of the mobile phone registration system (MPRS).

Verifiable information includes the name of the owner, home address, IMEI number, dealer source of equipment, PIN (personal identification system) of dealer, and two identifications.

The end user is then required to text to the NTC hot line number all the verifiable information to compete the process.

The circular lists penalties for violations which include confiscation of stocks, suspension, cancellation and revocation of permits and closure of operations.

Nonregistration of IMEI/maker/type/model/serial number is fined P5,000 per unit.

Once the circular is approved, cell-phone users have six months to register their units, while existing suppliers, distributors, and dealers are given three months.
By Darwin G. Amojelar, Manila Times Reporter