Senator Erwin Tulfo is championing legislative efforts to grant a 20-percent discount on mobile services for Filipino learners as schools increasingly turn to distance learning during frequent weather-induced class cancellations.
The proposed initiative, introduced under Senate Bill No. 2275 or the “Student Load Discount Act,” seeks to cushion households from the rising expense of mobile data and internet subscriptions required for remote coursework.
“We have to slash this added expense from students which too often prevents our students from keeping up with their online classes. This is our way to somehow level the playing field,” Tulfo said.
“We cannot expect students, especially those who come from indigent families to seamlessly transition into digital learning without the government lending them a helping hand,” he added.
Under the proposed measure, the 20-percent price reduction would cover prepaid load, postpaid plans, and mobile data packages. The discount would remain active continuously throughout the year—including weekends and holidays—to support uninterrupted academic activities.
If passed into law, the privilege will extend to Filipino students enrolled in recognized basic education, high schools, technical-vocational institutions, and colleges, though post-graduate scholars will not be covered.
To claim the rate reduction, learners must provide a current student ID or official enrollment certificate along with a birth certificate to verify Filipino citizenship.
All telecommunications providers would be mandated to implement the mandatory rate reduction, with non-compliant companies subject to legal penalties.
Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, pointed out how educational norms surrounding bad weather have shifted, with academic institutions opting for virtual instruction rather than complete class cancellations to maintain their academic schedules.
“Before, when classes are suspended, there were simply no classes. But this time around, most schools immediately shift to online modality to avoid academic backlogs,” Tulfo said.
“It is our duty in the government to guarantee access. A student’s potential to learn should never be halted simply because they cannot afford mobile data or an internet connection. No student must be left offline when everyone else should be online,” he added.