Gatchalian seeks ban on expiry dates of prepaid internet, cellphone load credits

Senator Win Gatchalian called on colleagues to have the bill seeking to lift the validity period of prepaid load credits for phones and internet services tackled in the Senate.

"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.

The senator said such policy 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," Gatchalian emphasized.

The Vice Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee said it's high time that such policy imposed by public telecommunications entities (PTEs) and ICT providers be subject to a review.

Gatchalian, in filing of Senate Bill No. 365 or the Prepaid Load Forever Act, is proposing to prohibit all PTEs and ICT providers from imposing an expiration date on the validity period of prepaid load credits, regardless of the amount involved, unless fully consumed.

Covered in the senator's proposal are 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.

"Sa panahon ngayon na iginagapang ng karamihan ang arawang gastusin at ginagawa na ang lahat ng paraan ng pagtitipid, nararapat lamang na tulungan natin silang mapagaan ang kanilang mga pasanin ," said Gatchalian.

The proposed bill imposes a fine that ranges from P100,000 to as much as P2 million and imprisonment of two to six years plus an immediate revocation of license to engage in business will be meted against those who will violate the acts covered in the bill.

Currently, prepaid load credits worth P300 have one-year validity while those with higher value have a longer expiration period.

"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. 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," said Gatchalian.

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Pagbabawal sa expiration ng prepaid cellphone at internet load sinusulong ni Gatchalian

Nanawagan si Senador Win Gatchalian sa mga kasamahan niya sa Senado na talakayin na ang nakabinbing panukala na nagbabawal sa paglalagay ng validity period sa mga prepaid load credits ng mga cellphone at internet services.

"Sa ganitong panahon na may coronavirus pandemic, ang masakit na katotohanan ay nakaasa tayo sa information and communication technologies (ICT) sa araw-araw nating pamumuhay. At para sa mga hindi nakakaluwag sa buhay, mahalaga ang bawat piso sa kanilang gastusin," ani Gatchalian.

"Ang mawalan ng mga natitirang load sa kanilang prepaid credits dahil inabutan na ng expiration ay hindi katanggap-tanggap sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon," dagdag pa ni Gatchalian.

Ang ganitong sistema aniya ay hindi dapat pinapayagan sapagkat bayad na nang buo ang mga load credits at serbisyong iniaalok sa mga subscribers, samakatuwid ay may karapatan silang makunsumo ito.

"Ang pagbawalan silang makunsumo nang buo ang load dahil sa expiration period ay hindi makatuwiran at anti-consumer. Hindi ito tulad ng ibang mga bilihin na kinakain natin o may bisa katulad ng mga gamot. Ang ganitong bilihin ay nakadepende sa dalas ng paggamit ng mga subscribers at nararapat lamang na nasa kanila ang desisyon kung susulitin nila ang kanilang mga load credits," paliwanag ng senador.

Ayon sa Vice Chairman ng Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, napapanahon na para repasuhin ang ganitong pamamalakad ng mga public telecommunications entities (PTEs) at ICT providers.

Sa kanyang inihaing Senate Bill No. 365 o ang Prepaid Load Forever Act, pinagbabawalan ang lahat ng PTEs at ICT providers na maglagay ng expiration date sa mga prepaid load credits anuman ang halaga nito.

Sakop ng panukalang batas ang prepaid cards at electronic loads sa mga serbisyong may short messaging system (SMS) o text messaging, mobile data, value added services (VAS) at mga gadgets kung saan maaring magamit ang internet katulad ng mga tablets, Wi-Fi dongles or mobile hotspots.

"Sa panahon ngayon na iginagapang ng karamihan ang arawang gastusin at ginagawa na ang lahat ng paraan ng pagtitipid, nararapat lamang na tulungan natin silang mapagaan ang kanilang mga pasanin," sabi ni Gatchalian.

Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas ng senador, sinuman ang lumabag dito ay may karampatang parusang multa mula P100,000 hanggang P2 milyon at pagkakakulong na dalawa hanggang anim na taon, bukod pa sa agarang pagbawi ng business license.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang prepaid load credit na may halagang P300 ay may one-year validity habang ang mga may mas mataas na halaga ay mas mahaba ang palugit.

"Sa panahong napakahalaga ng social distancing sa ilalim ng new normal, nakadepende tayo sa mga telecommunication at ICT services. Kaya para sa mga ordinaryong tao, malaking kawalan ang mapagkaitan ng load credits lalo na kung pinaghirapan nila ang pinambili dito. Nararapat lamang na masulit nila ang pinambayad nila sa mga ganitong serbisyo," ani Gatchalian.

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