TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
SENATE 
S. No.
Ijj • 
'' r«j 
ism*^ ^ i I vi
25 JUL 10 P3 :09
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 6th rank out of 45 countries in Asia 
and 56th rank out of 169 countries in the world. Compared to 2023 index, we retained 
the 6th ranking in Asia but we slipped two notches down from 54th rank in the world.1
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.
NGC^Y EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 Internet Poverty Index


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
381
fa t*::. • -
jg'ffift* of t.!.'
25 JUL 10 P3 :09
RECEIVED BV;
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:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Refund for Internet and
2 
Telecommunications Service Outages and Disruptions Act'.
3 
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:
6 
"SEC. 20-A. REFUNDS FOR INTERNET AND
7 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OUTAGES AND
8 
INTERRUPTIONS. 
- 
(A) 
PUBLIC
9 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES, INCLUDING
10 
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS (ISPS), SHALL, ON A
11 
PRO-RATED BASIS, PROVIDE A REFUND CREDIT TO A
12 
CUSTOMER, OR ADJUST A CUSTOMER'S BILL, WHO
13 
HAS EXPERIENCED A SERVICE OUTAGE OR
14 
DISRUPTION FOR AN AGGREGATE PERIOD OF
15 
TWENTY-FOUR (24) HOURS OR MORE - WITHIN A


1 
MONTH. 
THE ISPS AND PUBLIC
2 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTITIES CONCERNED
3 
SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE CUSTOMER TO TAKE ANY
4 
ACTION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A REFUND CREDIT OR
5 
BILL ADJUSTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION; (B) THE
6 
REFUND CREDIT GRANTED UNDER THE
7 
CIRCUMSTANCES MENTIONED ABOVE SHALL
8 
LIKEWISE BE GRANTED TO CUSTOMERS
9 
SUBSCRIBING TO A SERVICE ON A PREPAID BASIS."
10 
Sec. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held
11 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part
12 
not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
13 
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. - Ali laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
14 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
15 
Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shali take effect fifteen (15) days after its
16 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,