Two senators are seeking to reduce the cost of mobile connectivity through separate bills proposing a 20% student discount on mobile services, lower default call and text rates, and non-expiring prepaid load.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo filed Senate Bill No. 2275, or the proposed Student Load Discount Act, which would require telecommunications companies to give enrolled Filipino students a 20% discount on prepaid load, postpaid plans, and mobile Internet packages.
The proposal comes as schools increasingly shift to online classes during severe weather and other disruptions, requiring students to spend on mobile data to continue their lessons.
“We have to slash this added expense from students which too often prevents our students from keeping up with their online classes. This is our way to somehow level the playing field,” Tulfo said.
“We cannot expect students, especially those who come from indigent families to seamlessly transition into digital learning without the government lending them a helping hand,” he added.
The discount would cover Filipino students enrolled in authorized elementary, secondary, technical-vocational, and higher education institutions, excluding postgraduate programs. It would be available throughout the year, including weekends and holidays.
Students would be required to present a school ID or proof of enrollment, along with a birth certificate to establish Filipino citizenship. Telcos that fail to provide the discount would face penalties under the bill.
“Before, when classes are suspended, there were simply no classes. But this time around, most schools immediately shift to online modality to avoid academic backlogs,” Tulfo said.
“It is our duty in the government to guarantee access. A student’s potential to learn should never be halted simply because they cannot afford mobile data or an internet connection. No student must be left offline when everyone else should be online,” he added.
Separately, Sen. Loren Legarda filed the proposed SULIT Load Act, which would require regulators to review regular prepaid rates and strengthen protections against unexpected deductions, unclear promo pricing, and the expiration of paid load.
The National Telecommunications Commission, together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, and Philippine Competition Commission, would be directed to rationalize rates for text messages, mobile calls, data, and mobile-to-landline calls.
While the review is pending, the bill proposes maximum default rates of P0.50 per text message, P2 per minute for domestic mobile calls, and P3 per minute for mobile-to-landline calls.
“Napakalaki na ng ipinagbago ng telecommunications technology. Mas mabilis ang networks, mas malaki ang volume ng calls, texts, at data, at napakarami nang murang promo. Kaya makatuwiran lamang na tanungin: bakit ang regular na singil sa text at tawag ay parang naiwan pa rin sa nakaraan? Panahon nang iayon ang presyo sa teknolohiya at realidad ngayon,” Legarda said.
The measure would also require telcos to disclose the effective cost per gigabyte, call minute, text message, and landline call minute, as well as the promo price, validity period, restrictions, and treatment of unused allocations.
“Kung namimili tayo ng bigas, gasolina, o ibang produkto, may presyo at sukatan na puwedeng ikumpara. Dapat ganoon din sa load. Dapat madaling makita kung magkano talaga ang binabayaran kada GB, kada minuto ng tawag, o kada text,” Legarda said.
Paid regular prepaid load would not expire for as long as the subscriber’s account remains active. The bill would also require notices before out-of-promo charges begin and provide mechanisms for restoring or refunding improperly deducted load.
“Binayaran na ng subscriber ang load na iyon. Hangga’t aktibo ang account, walang makatuwirang dahilan para basta mawala ang perang naipambili niya rito,” Legarda said.
The proposal also directs the NTC to consider cheaper packages, toll-free services, and shared-cost arrangements for calls to banks, hospitals, schools, utilities, airlines, government offices, and other essential services.
“Long overdue na ang ganitong proteksyon. Mabilis ang naging pag-unlad ng telecommunications industry, at dapat maramdaman din iyon ng consumer sa presyo, transparency, at paraan ng pagtrato sa load na binayaran niya,” Legarda said.
