House bill seeks 20% discount on mobile load, internet services for students

Some question its implementation and cost.

A proposed bill in Congress is seeking to give a 20% discount on mobile load, calls, texts, and internet services for Filipino students.

Under House Bill No. 9859, or the “Student Discount Para sa Load Act,” the discount would cover prepaid load, postpaid mobile plans, and internet services.

Eligible beneficiaries include students from accredited elementary, secondary, technical-vocational, and higher education institutions. Postgraduate students are excluded from the coverage.

The National Telecommunications Commission and the Department of Information and Communications Technology would oversee implementation, while telco companies would be required to submit quarterly compliance reports.

The bill was filed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima. 

Under legislative procedure, a House bill must pass three rounds of voting before moving to the Senate, which puts it through the exact same process.

If the two versions don’t match, a joint bicameral committee irons out the differences. Once the unified version is approved, it goes to the president for signing or vetoing. If left untouched, it automatically lapses into law after 30 days.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions online.

While some have welcomed the potential financial relief for students, others raised concerns about implementation—and who would ultimately shoulder the cost of the subsidy.

“It’s good and all, but I hope no one will bear the burden for this discount,” a Reddit user wrote.

“I think a more targeted solution would be to offer free Wi-Fi in more public places like schools and libraries, in order to reduce their data charges,” another one wrote. “Students shouldn’t benefit from a subsidy when using their mobile gadgets for non-education[al] purposes.”

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