Rep. Leila de Lima has filed House Bill 9903, also known as the Prepaid Load Forever Act, which aims to stop telcos from imposing expiration dates on prepaid load credits. The move is meant to protect consumers from losing unused credits and prevent unfair practices.
The proposal takes after Senate Bill 1095 filed by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. It bars expiration periods, forfeiture of unused load, and refusal to refund credits without a valid reason. De Lima said prepaid load is a consumer asset and should not be taken away arbitrarily.
Under HB 9903, accounts inactive for at least one year may be charged ₱1 per day until credits are consumed. Providers may also reclaim inactive numbers. Current rules from the NTC, DICT, and DTI already require prepaid load to remain valid for one year regardless of amount, but the bill seeks to make this protection permanent.
De Lima stressed that telecom services are essential and should not exploit consumers. She added that government action is needed to safeguard consumer rights while supporting the growth of the digital economy.
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If passed, the bill will permanently end prepaid load expirations, giving consumers full control of their credits and ensuring fairer telecom practices in the country.
