Camarines Sur 5th District Representative Migz Villafuerte is urging the speedy passage of a measure that would require internet service providers (ISPs) to allow subscribers to carry over their unused data to the next billing cycle.
Villafuerte said the proposed Roll-Over Data Act—prohibiting the expiration of unconsumed data—has already been endorsed by the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology, which he chairs.
“This is to allow both the prepaid and postpaid subscribers of ISPs to carry over or still use their remaining or unused data to the next billing cycle or until their loads are fully consumed,” he said.
Committee Report 9 on House Bill 87 was unanimously approved, consolidating HB 87, HB 650, and HB 708. The measures were authored by lawmakers Jolo Revilla, Lani Mercado-Revilla, Bryan Revilla, Noel Rivera, Javi Benitez, Toby Tiangco, and Rivera.
Villafuerte said the bill ensures subscribers keep their unused data “even after such expire in one or several days or in a month, depending on their respective subscription plans.”
“This means goodbye to the currently unfair, anti-consumer practice of ISPs to have their subscribers, whether with prepaid or postpaid data packages, forfeit their unused data when their particular subscriptions end after a day, three days, a week, 15 days, or one month,” he added.
Under the proposal, postpaid users will consume rolled-over data first and may accumulate unused allocations until year-end, with all remaining data convertible to rebates for future internet payments.
Prepaid and promo-based users may roll over data only if they immediately renew their subscriptions; failure to do so triggers a 20% daily reduction until forfeiture after five days.
The bill excludes unlimited data plans. ISPs violating the measure face a ₱50,000 fine per infraction, with repeat violators potentially losing their license or franchise.