Technical group created to cut fees of cellphone voice calls

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Senate created a technical working group (TWG) that will discuss and draft a bill requiring phone companies to charge voice calls per second, instead of per minute. The TWG, to be headed by the National Telecommunications Commission chief, will try to determine “the necessary steps in implementing a metering of phone calls," said Senator Manuel A. Roxas, who ordered the TWG’s creation. The practice of phone companies of “charging a 30-minute call service with the price of a P1-minute call should not be allowed to continue," Roxas said, during the joint hearing of the Senate committees on trade and commerce and public services. Smart Communications Inc., the country’s leading mobile phone firm, will change its billing system if required to do so, Ramon Isberto, the company’s public affairs head, said. But in an interview after the hearing, Isberto said the company will have to study the proposal thoroughly since it will be a major business decision. Globe Telecoms Inc. said it will take their operations into consideration, if required to charge voice calls per second from per minute, Rodolfo Salalima, the company’s chief legal counsel, said. Sun Cellular said the company has already been implementing per second charging under its unlimited calls scheme, William Pamintuan, the company’s senior vice president for legal services, said. NTC Commissioner Ruel V. Canobas will set the date and time of the TWG meeting which should be held before the next Senate hearing. - GMANews.TV