MANILA, Philippines – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Senate to start discussions on the bill which seeks to lift the validity of the period of prepaid load credits for phones and internet services.
Gatchalian is referring the Senate Bill No. 365 or the Prepaid Load Forever Act which proposes to prohibit all public telecommunications entities (PTE) and information and communication technology (ICT) providers from imposing an expiration date on the validity period of prepaid load credits, regardless of the amount involved, unless fully consumed.
“The harsh reality in this era of coronavirus pandemic is that we rely on information and communication technologies (ICT) in our daily life. And for those with limited resources, every peso counts. Forfeiture of unused prepaid load credits due to expiration period is somehow unconscionable under the current situation,” Gatchalian said in a statement on Sunday.
The senator said such policy by telecommunication companies is unwarranted as subscribers should be made to consume the load credits and avail of the services they have paid for.
“To restrict them due to expiration periods is rather anti-consumer. Unlike in other goods that are edible and have efficacy, this kind of commodity depends on the subscribers’ usage and they should be given the choice whether or not to make full use of the services,” he said.
Gatchalian, the vice chairman of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee, said it’s high time that such policy imposed by PTEs and ICT providers be subject to a review.
His proposal covers prepaid cards and electronic loads for services that offer voice, short messaging system (SMS) or text, mobile data, value added services (VAS) and those loaded to devices that make use of the internet such as tablets, Wi-Fi dongles or mobile hotspots.
The bill imposes a fine of up to P2 million and imprisonment of two to six years plus an immediate revocation of license to engage in business for those who will violate the acts covered in the measure.
“The ICT devices have played an essential role in dealing with the challenges that have emerged within a socially distanced environment. In continuing our daily grind under the new normal, we’re highly dependent on telecommunication and ICT services,” he said.
“For ordinary folks, losing their load credits paid by their hard-earned money is a big deal. They should be afforded with the services they have paid for,” he added.
Currently, prepaid load credits worth P300 have one-year validity while those with higher value have a longer expiration period. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Harlene Delgado)
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