House committee OKs bill against unwanted promo calls, texts

MANILA, Philippines - The House Committee on Information and Communications approved on Friday the substitute bill for the 'No Calls and No Text Registration Act,' which aims to protect mobile users from unwanted calls and text messages promoting products and services.

The committee headed by Rizal 1st District Rep. Joel Roy Duavit approved the measure to substitute House Bill 1030 filed by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo and House Resolution 86 filed by Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Winston Castelo.

Romulo said the measure will ban unwanted calls and text messages that disturb users and require more responsible business practices.

"The freedom of the business-oriented person or entities to promote and sell their goods and services ends where the freedom of individuals to privacy is exercised," he said.

Under the bill, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will establish a registry where the identity and privacy of users registered will be kept highly confidential such that only telephone numbers may be accessed. Any person wishing to access the registry will need to register first with NTC.

The measure allows any person to register up to three mobile phone numbers and the registration for minors may be done by their parents or legal guardian. Registration of fixed telephone numbers shall only be allowed for residential lines. No unsolicited calls and text messages shall be made or sent to telephone numbers on the NTC registry.

The measure makes unsolicited calls or text messages illegal without disclosing the full name of the caller or text sender, the company or organization behind the message and the telephone number of a fixed line where such identity can be established and verified.

The measure also penalizes sending calls and messages that attempt to trick users into believing that they won a fake promo, raffle and other similar scams.

Offenders will be slapped with fine ranging from P50,000-P100,000.