House OKs on third reading proposed Roll-Over Internet Act

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the proposed Roll-Over Internet Act on third and final reading.

House Bill 9057 received 244 affirmative votes.

Bayan Muna lawmaker Carlos Zarate, who voted yes to the measure, said internet access is necessary amid the COVID-19 pandemic since transactions, as well as education, had gone online.

"Minamandato ng HB 9057 na ang data na ating binibili sa mga telecommunications networks ay hindi agad-agad mae-expire, at dapat ito ay pinapayagan na maipon upang mas mapahaba pa ang pag gamit," Zarate said.

(HB 9067 mandates that the data purchased from telecommunications networks does not expire quickly, and also that the data can be accumulated so we can stay online longer.)

"Malaking tulong ito lalo na sa mga minsanan lamang gumamit ng internet data para mabawasan ng kaunti ang kanyang gastusin," he added.

(This is a big help for those who do not go online often as it cuts down on their expenses.)

The said measure aims to guarantee that end-users of internet services will get the most from and enjoy to the fullest the data allocation that they purchase.

This bill mandates all internet service providers to implement a roll-over data allocation system for their subscribers, which can be consumed in the preceding month.

It also orders ISPs to roll over the unused and accumulated data every month up until the last month of the year, adding that all unused data allocation for a year may be used and converted as rebates, which may be utilized as payment for internet service in the succeeding year of subscription. — DVM, GMA News