Section 6Sec./Art. 6

Obligation of Public Telecommunications Entities (PTE). - It shall be the obligation of every PTE to:

(a) Provide nationwide MNP to all qualified subscribers completely free of charge.1awp++i1 In no case, under penalty of law as provided hereunder, shall the benefits of MNP to a subscriber who has decided to avail of MNP be delayed, withheld, refused, or otherwise not delivered within the period provided under this Act: Provided, That a PTE shall change the type of subscription from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa, within twenty-four (24) hours from the time a subscriber submits the porting application: Provided, further, That the number porting process for postpaid subscribers is separate from the approval process for a new mobile subscription plan from the recipient provider: Provided, finally, That a subscriber shall be allowed to port the same number only after the lapse of sixty (60) days from the completion of the last porting process;

(b) Set up a mechanism for the implementation of MNP. It shall interconnect directly or indirectly with the infrastructure, facilities, systems, or equipment of other PTEs and not install network features, functions or capabilities that will impede the implementation of the nationwide MNP system;

(c) Unlock upon demand and completely free of charge the mobile telephone handset of a subscriber who has requested and has complied with all the requirements for MNP;

(d) Facilitate the number porting process of VNOs that it is hosting in its network, in case a subscriber of such entities decides to avail of MNP, and upon the receipt of the application from the VNOs;

(e) Provide subscribers complete, relevant, and timely information on MNP including its features, the porting application requirements, the porting process, and the cutover period in the porting process;

(f) Maintain confidentiality of information obtained by not monitoring or disclosing the contents of any usage transaction contained within the databases under its control, except to the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of this Act; and

(g) Adhere to the provisions cf Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the "Data Privacy Act of 2012", its IRR, and issuances of the National Privacy Commission in the processing or handling of the subscribers personal data, and provide the necessary safeguards to protect the same in the course of porting activities.