REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7925 - page 6 ARTICLE VII. RIGHTS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS USERS SEC. 20. Rights of End Users. - The user of telecommunications service shall have the following basic rights: a) Entitlement of utility service which is non-discriminatory reliable and conforming with minimum standards set by the Commission; b) Right to be given the first single-line telephone connection or the first party-line connection within two (2) months of application for service, against deposit, or within three (3) months after targeted commencement of service in the barangay concerned per the original schedule of service expansion approved by the Commission, whichever deadline comes later; c) Regular, timely and accurate billing, courteous and efficient service at utility business offices and by utility company personnel; and d) Thorough and prompt investigation of, and action upon complaints. The utility shall endeavor to allow complaints to be received over the telephone and shall keep a record of all written or phoned-in complaints. ARTICLE VIII. TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT SEC. 21. Public Ownership. - In compliance with the Constitutional mandate to democratize ownership of public utilities, all telecommunications entities with regulated types of services shall make a bonafide public offering through the stock exchanges of at least thirty percent (30%) of its aggregate common stocks within a period of five (5) years from effectivity of this Act or the entity's first start of commercial operations, whichever date is later. The public offering shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. SEC. 22. Privatization of Existing Facilities. - The Department shall, within three (3) years from effectivity of this Act, privatize all telecommunications facilities currently owned and/or operated by the government for public use, plus those facilities currently being planned under various bilateral funding arrangements. Unless otherwise authorized by law, privatization of telecommunications facilities as well as construction of telephone infrastructure shall be made through public bidding. SEC. 23. Equality of Treatment in the Telecommunications Industry. - Any advantage, favor, privilege, exemption, or immunity granted under existing franchises, or may hereafter be granted, shall ipso facto become part of previously granted telecommunications franchises and shall be accorded immediately and unconditionally to the grantees of such franchises: Provided, however, That the foregoing shall neither apply to nor affect provisions of telecommunications franchises concerning territory covered by the franchise, the life span of the franchise, or the type of service authorized by the franchise. ARTICLE IX. FINAL PROVISIONS SEC. 24. Transitory Provision. - All telecommunications services deregulated hereby and which are operating at the effectivity of this Act, may continue to have their rates and tariffs approved by the Commission until the end of the calendar year of the effectivity of this Act. Existing franchises that are not operating or without pending applications for certificates of public convenience at the time of effectivity of this Act are deemed revoked. All interconnection agreements previously entered into between telecommunications carriers shall remain in full force and effect but the parties shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, review their access charging/revenue sharing formula and submit to the Commission an amendment thereof, if necessary, in order to comply with the guidelines on the access charging/revenue sharing formula contained in Section 18 of this Act. SEC. 25. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirely. SEC. 26. Repealing Clause - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and other issuances of parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SEC. 27. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved: March 1, 1995
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