BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance regulating the sale and purchase, trade in, pawning, repair, servicing and maintenance of brand new, used, pre-owned and reconditioned mobile phone units in the city and for other purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated the local legislative measure shall cover all activities related to the above activities including transactions which are entered into by, but not limited to consumers, dealers, and retailers of mobile phone units service and repair centers, including pawnshops and cellphone repair shops of all types within the city.
Under the proposed ordinance, all business establishments selling brand new mobile phone units, purchase and sale, trade-in of used, pre-owned or reconditioned mobile phone units and in the repair, servicing, and maintenance of all types of mobile phones, are first required to secure a license from the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) and a business permit from the local government; the individual seller or pawnee of the used or pre-owned mobile phone is required to show proof of ownership to their mobile phone center or pawnshop by presenting two valid identification cards, the international mobile equipment identity of the unit, official receipt of original purchase, certificate of ownership of the unit, and battery charger and other accessories for verification purposes.
The ordinance provides the mobile phone centers or pawnshops have the right to either buy, accept or reject the used or pre-owned mobile phone when proof of ownership has been satisfactorily or unsatisfactorily presented, phone accessories are complete or incomplete and the mobile phone is in good or poor functional condition as certified by the mobile phone center technician or accredited technician.
Further, the owner, operator or employees of the mobile phone centers or pawnshops are required to get the complete name, address and telephone number of the individual selling or pawning the used or pre-owned phone.
All purchased or pawned, used or pre-owned mobile phones must be reported by the mobile phone centers or pawnshops to the NTC and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), and that the list shall include the name of owner, original date of purchase, name of company where the unit was bought, the serial number or international mobile equipment identity, within three days from its purchase or pawning.
When selling or auctioning used mobile phones, pawnshops or centers are required to present to prospective buyers upon their request proof of ownership of the original owner of the phone unit on sale or being auctioned.
The ordinance stated the guidelines do not cover specific business transactions covering the price of the used or pre-owned phone unit, the period of guarantee and cost of maintenance or repair of the purchased unit.
Any individual, distributor, supplier, retailer, service center or pawnshop owner who is found to have in his or her possession a mobile unit obtained, acquired or possessed through illegal or criminal means shall be imposed a penalty of imprisonment of six months to one year or a fine of P5,000 with revocation of business permit. By Dexter A. See
