Senate to look into ‘disappearing’ prepaid load

THE Senate is set to conduct an investigation into the telecommunications industry’s treatment of prepaid load on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Senate committee chair on public service, Sen. Grace Poe, said that the hearing will discuss Senate Bill No. 848 or the proposed Prepaid Load Protection Act of 2016, which prohibits telecommunication companies from imposing an expiration period on the validity of prepaid credits and the forfeiture of “load.”

Under the proposed Prepaid Load Protection Act, telecommunication companies will not be able to impose an expiration period on the validity of unused prepaid call and text credits.

In addition, the bill prevents telcos from forfeiting load credits stored on an active prepaid phone. Companies are also required to refund prepaid subscribers whose load credits are forfeited without any valid cause.

If a company is found violating the ordinance, its license may be revoked or it may be served with a fine of up to P1 million.

According to a statement released by Ms. Poe on Sunday, telcos like Smart Communications, Inc., PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc. have been invited to the proceedings as well as representatives from the National Telecommunications Commission.

When asked if industry players will welcome the Prepaid Load Protection Act, Globe Telecom’s Senior Vice-President, Corporate Communications Group, Yolanda C. Crisanto, said in a text message to that the company is still waiting for the position paper of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO).

PCTO and Smart/PLDT have yet to respond to queries as of press time.

The Prepaid Load Protection Act of 2016, authored by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto, is on its first reading. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Public Services and Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship. —