Senior Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Leila de Lima is pushing a measure in the House of Representatives that seeks to prohibit telecommunications companies from imposing expiration dates on prepaid mobile load, arguing that the current system is unfair to consumers.

De Lima, representative of the Mamamayang Liberal Party-list, filed House Bill No. 9903, also known as the “Prepaid Load Forever Act,” which aims to ensure that prepaid credits purchased by users will no longer expire.

Under the proposed measure, all public telecommunications entities would be barred from setting expiration periods on prepaid load. The bill also seeks to prevent companies from confiscating or forfeiting remaining credits from active accounts without sufficient and valid reason.

"Lugi at unfair sa mga consumers kung napipilitan silang ubusin ang biniling load para lang hindi masayang dahil mag-e-expire na," De Lima said.

She added that once prepaid credits are bought, they become the property of the consumer and should not be subject to arbitrary limits.

The lawmaker emphasized that telecommunications firms should protect consumer rights rather than impose policies that may be seen as exploitative for profit.

The proposal has a counterpart measure in the Senate, being advanced by Senate President Win Gatchalian, signaling broader legislative support for reforms in prepaid mobile services.

If enacted, the bill would mark a significant shift in the country’s telecommunications policies, benefiting millions of prepaid mobile users nationwide.