De Lima Files Bill Seeking to End Expiry Dates on Prepaid Load

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima has filed a bill that seeks to remove expiry dates on unused prepaid load and mobile data credits, arguing that consumers should not lose credits they have already paid for.

The proposed measure, called the Prepaid Load Forever Act, aims to prohibit the forfeiture of unused prepaid load in active accounts and prevent telco providers from refusing to refund forfeited credits without a valid reason.

The bill comes after de Lima also filed a separate proposal seeking a 20% discount on load, text, call, and internet services for students.

Protecting Prepaid Consumers

Under the current system, prepaid load credits remain valid for one year.

De Lima said this setup is unfair to consumers because it forces them to use their load or data before expiry to avoid losing what they already paid for.

“It is unfair and inequitable to put expiration dates on prepaid load credits, as it forces consumers to use up their load or data prematurely to avoid forfeiting them,” de Lima said.

She added that consumers are placed at a disadvantage when they are pressured to consume load simply to prevent it from going to waste.

What the Bill Proposes

The Prepaid Load Forever Act seeks to remove expiry dates on unused prepaid load and mobile data credits.

It also aims to stop telco providers from forfeiting unused load in active accounts.

The proposal is designed to make prepaid credits function more like paid value that remains with the consumer unless properly used, refunded, or deducted under rules allowed by law.

Addressing Dormant SIM Cards

One issue the bill addresses is dormant SIM card management.

Under the proposal, telco providers may deduct ₱1 per day from accounts that have been completely inactive for one year.

The deduction would continue until the remaining credits are fully consumed.

This provision also gives telco providers the right to reclaim and reassign numbers after the remaining balance has been drained.

What Consumers Should Watch

If passed, the bill could change how prepaid subscribers manage mobile load and data.

For many Filipinos who rely on prepaid services, especially students, workers, low-income households, and occasional mobile users, the proposal could reduce the pressure to consume load quickly just to avoid expiry.

However, the bill is still a proposal. Its final provisions may still change as it moves through the legislative process.

Questions also remain on how telcos would implement the ₱1 daily deduction for dormant accounts and whether additional safeguards will be included to inform users before balances are drained.

A Consumer Rights Issue in Mobile Access

Prepaid mobile services remain an everyday necessity for many Filipinos.

Load is used for calls, texts, mobile data, online classes, work communication, emergency contact, digital payments, and access to government and essential services.

The Prepaid Load Forever Act frames unused load not simply as a telecom product, but as paid consumer value that should not disappear because of an expiry date.

For prepaid users, the bill raises a simple but important point: when people pay for load, they should be able to use its value fairly and reasonably.