Thursday, March 7, 2019

NTC defers 8-digit landline number implementation

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has deferred the implementation of the eight-digit landline number in Greater Manila Area to October 6, 2019 in order to give sufficient time for local banks and credit card companies to prepare for the change.

In its advisory, the NTC said the Banker Associations of the Philippines (BAP) and the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) have requested for the deferment of the migration of Area Code 02 landline numbers from 7 digits to 8 digits from March 18 to October 6 which covers the areas of Metro Manila, Rizal province, the city of Meycauayan, Bulacan, San Pedro, Laguna and municipality of Obando, Bulacan.

Among the reasons cited by the BAP and CCAP are to update client phone numbers and period for rigid testing and validation prior to full migration; conduct of an intensive and expansive campaign for clients especially those overseas including updating banks’ marketing collaterals on requisite hotlines; and compliance with rules and regulations of regulatory agencies such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

"BAP and CCAP initially requested for deferment of the implementation to January 2020. Extensive consultations were conducted between the Commission, public telecommunications entities (PTEs), BAP, and CCAP. After the consultations, the Commission, PTEs, BAP and CCAP agreed to implement the required migration on October 6, 2019," the NTC advisory read

Major telco firms PLDT and Globe Telecom have said that they will comply with the NTC directive to implement the landline number migration on October.

“We will make the necessary adjustments when it comes to our internal systems and communication efforts to ensure smooth service continuity for all of our affected customers. Our teams are continuously working closely with the NTC and other telcos to assist affected customers before, during, and after the migration,” Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo said in a separate statement on Thursday.

From October 6 to January 5, Globe customers who will still incorrectly dial the old 7-digit number will hear a special announcement, saying the format has been changed to 8 digits. The company will continue reminding its customers on the upcoming migration in October through all available channels, including SMS, email, and social media.

Meanwhile, PLDT has advised its subscribers that it will be implementing the landline migration on October 6 in compliance with the order of the NTC.

NTC issued Memorandum Order No. 10-10-2017 on October 27, 2017, directing all telecommunications companies in the Philippines to migrate all customers within the area code 02 to 8-digit telephone numbers, from the existing 7 digits.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063958

Railway key to obtain GCR’s economic targets: PNR

Railways will play key role in obtaining economic targets once the proposed Greater Capital Region (GCR) pushes through, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) said on Wednesday.

"According to studies, the GCR to be an engine of growth should have its inhabitants living 55 minutes away to where they work. So knowing that, that is the objective of GCR, railway is a key to obtain those economic targets of the GCR and that’s where PNR comes in," PNR General Manager Junn B. Magno said in the weekly economic briefing in MalacaƱang.

Magno said the proposed GCR will be composed of the Greater Manila Area, Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4-A or Calabarzon.

“That’s horizon project can take around 10 to 15 years to have that. Pero umpisahan na namin iyong studies ngayon (But we have to start now our studies),” Magno said.

He said the planned North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) would make travelling on the 150-kilometer GCR intercity faster with the ride lasting about 55 minutes.

"It will span from Calamba, through ParaƱaque, Makati, Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac and especially the new developments in Clark, New Clark City and kung mayroon pang ma-develop na new business districts (if there will be future business districts to be developed)," he said on the planned railway.

He also mentioned the railway from Sucat, Paranaque to Matnog, Sorsogon which will lessen travel time to four hours.

"PNR is also embarking/rehabilitating its own right of way all the way to Sorsogon. Although we have serviced all the way lang to Legazpi, we are rehabilitating and creating a new line called South Long Haul," he said.

"Naga will just take three hours, it would compete with the airline services actually. And the new central station will be interconnected with NSCR and it will be located in the old power plant in Sucat," he added.

PNR earlier requested the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for a feasibility study on the planned Cabanatuan-Makati Line or the North-East Commuter Line, as part of the process for getting the final nod on the project, aimed at improving transportation in the GCR. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063847