Sciate We home of the stretry TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P3:09 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 381 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7925, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES", BY REQUIRING PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES AND INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO INSTITUTE A REFUND MECHANISM FOR SERVICE OUTAGES AND DISRUPTIONS EXPLANATORY NOTE Over the years, the use of internet services in the country has greatly increased in various sectors and industries such as manufacturing, services, education and even in the public sector. The dependence on internet in conducting daily activities was accelerated when COVID-19 pandemic struck and the default mode of doing things was online and virtual. Republic Act No. 7925, otherwise known as the "Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines" was approved in 1995 to develop and administer the telecommunications industry in the country, giving priority to improving and extending basic services to unserved and underserved areas at affordable rates. The provision of internet connection is governed by this law. At present, one of the most pressing concerns regarding internet connection is its accessibility. While addressing accessibility primarily refers to the provision of internet connection to all areas in the country, it also concerns the availability of reliable connection at all times. Hence, genuine accessibility can only be achieved if
the connection to internet services is regular, reliable, consistent, uninterrupted and fast that will allow continuity of activities and interconnectivity among different users. Another aspect of accessibility of internet services is its cost. Internet poverty, as defined by World Data Lab, is the ability of the people to "afford a minimum package of mobile internet" within the three pillars of affordability, quantity, and quality. According to the 2024 Internet Poverty Index of the said organization, 18,325,464 individuals or 15.9% of the total population of the Philippines, are internet poor. Internet price is at $4.8. This places us at fth rank out of 45 countries in Asia and 56th rank out of 169 countries in the world. Compared to 2023 index, we retained the fth ranking in Asia but we slipped two notches down from 54th rank in the world. I The link among accessibility, quality and cost are essential to the consumers. It is important, therefore, that they receive the service that is worth every cent that they pay. This measure intends to implement fair charging of internet service to the consumers. It seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7925 to require public telecommunication entities and internet service providers to institute a mechanism that will enable them to automatically refund or adjust the bills of their postpaid and prepaid subscribers whenever there are service outages and disruptions for an aggregate period of at least twenty-four (24) hours in a month. This will ensure that the consumers will not pay for the service that they were not able to avail of. In view of the foregoing, the swift passage of this measure is highly recommended. fight 1 JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA * Internet Poverty Index
Stin. TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 25 JUL 10 P3:09 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. - Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7925, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES", BY REQUIRING PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES AND INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO INSTITUTE A REFUND MECHANISM FOR SERVICE OUTAGES AND DISRUPTIONS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Refund for Internet and
2 Telecommunications Service Outages and Disruptions Act".
Sec. 2. A new Section 20-A is hereby added to Republic Act No. 7925, otherwise
4 known as the "Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines", to read as 5 follows: "SEC. 20-A. REFUNDS FOR INTERNET AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OUTAGES AND - INTERRUPTIONS. (A) PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES, INCLUDING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS (ISPS), SHALL, ON A PRO-RATED BASIS, PROVIDE A REFUND CREDIT TO A CUSTOMER, OR ADJUST A CUSTOMER'S BILL, WHO HAS EXPERIENCED A SERVICE OUTAGE OR DISRUPTION FOR AN AGGREGATE PERIOD OF TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS OR MORE - WITHIN A
MONTH. THE ISPS AND PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES CONCERNED SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE CUSTOMER TO TAKE ANY ACTION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A REFUND CREDIT OR BILL ADJUSTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION; (B) THE REFUND CREDIT GRANTED UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES MENTIONED ABOVE SHALL LIKEWISE BE GRANTED TO CUSTOMERS SUBSCRIBING TO A SERVICE ON A PREPAID BASIS."
Sec. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,