June 8, 2021
By Sheri Rose Malicdem
The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 9057 or the proposed Roll-Over Internet Act on final reading last June 1, which implements internet service providers (ISPs) to roll-over their subscribers’ data allocation.
A total of 244 affirmative votes, without opposition, pass the bill which seeks to mandate and institutionalize the roll-over data allocation scheme.
The proposed measure requires ISPs to maintain subscribers' internet data allocation even if they fail to use it in accordance with its expiry dates. Instead, the unused and accumulated data allocation shall be carried over in the succeeding months.
The bill also states that if subscribers have data allocations left until the last month of the year, the equivalent value of all their unused data may be used and converted to rebates. These rebates may then be used as payment for internet service in the succeeding year of subscription.
However, subscribers with unlimited data packages filed on March 18, 2021 are exempted from the Act.
If passed into law, ISPs who fail to comply will be penalised with a fine of P50,000 per violation. For repeated violations, aside from the payment of a fine, a revocation of ISP’s license and franchise will be served.
Moreover, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, who voted yes to the bill, said that internet access is a human right and a big help to lessen the subscribers’ expenses amid the pandemic.
“Ngayong panahong pandemya ng COVID-19 ay mas tumimo pa ang pangangailangan natin sa Internet, mula sa online classes sa eskwela hanggang maging sa mga opisyal na gawain ng gobyerno ay kailangan na ring dumaan sa internet. Kaya’t mariin na ipinaglalaban ng representasyong ito ang pagkakaroon ng mas mabilis at abot-kayang akses sa internet,” he added. SYNC IN
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