ROXAS WARNS TELCOS: CONGRESS CAN REVIEW YOUR FRANCHISES
URGES FIRMS TO ADDRESS CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today pressed the country's top mobile carriers to address growing consumer complaints about pre-paid subscription services offered to millions of mobile phone users.

Roxas, chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, warned Congress could interfere in the operations of the giant telecommunications firms if they continue to stonewall complaints related to services offered to their pre-paid users.

"Sabihin ninyo sa mga bosing ninyo na pangunahan na nila kami dito sa Kongreso at ayusin ang kanilang pamamalakad sa inyong mga kumpanya. Kung hindi kayo aayos, kami dito sa Kongreso ay mapipilitang gumawa ng paraan para masagot ang mga reklamo ng taumbayan," he said during Tuesday's hearing into the "Disappearing Load" controversy exposed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

"What you don't want is for Congress to start writing up your Operations Manual and imposing limits, including the number of minutes for lunch breaks or your pensions. We are resonating the public's complaint and if you stonewall these, we will take the necessary steps," he added.

The Visayan senator said telecommunication firms have long been remiss in serving the public's interest, noting that they have successfully tied the hands of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) from imposing strict guidelines on their operations.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Douglas Michael Millillin told senators the Commission has not been able to implement billing guidelines for telecommunication services and other value-added services offered because of an injunction issued by the Quezon City trial court branch 77 against Memorandum Circular No. 13-06-2000 on November 20, 2000.

The Circular, among others, sets the guidelines on billing statements, sale and use of prepaid cards, interconnection agreements and sanctions for violation of any provisions of the memorandum.

Roxas said Congress granted the franchises of the telecommunication firms on the assumption the industry would be ably regulated by the NTC. "But since the NTC has been handcuffed, 'yung franchises na ito ay hindi na operative," he said.

"Walong taon na itong kaso sa korte, mukhang nadi-dribble na ito. The injunction implies that the law is not clear. If that is the case, then Congress can clean the law and make it clear, and therefore, there will be no more injunctions," he said.

"The bottom line is the consumer. Hindi puwedeng balewalain ang mga hinaing nila; hindi dapat magbingi-bingihan sa mga reklamo at paratang nila. Mahalaga para sa mga taong ito ang maging in-touch sa mga mahal nila sa buhay. Sa kinse pesos na load, isang latang sardinas na iyon. We must address their concerns with compassion and understanding, and not turn a deaf ear. This is the public that we, as elected officials, swore to serve, and the least we could do is to listen to the people who are the very lifeblood of your business," he said.

Roxas announced the second hearing would be scheduled next week to hear more complaints from subscribers of Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecoms and Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. (Sun Cellular).