Senator Erwin Tulfo is pushing for a 20% discount on mobile load, postpaid plans and mobile internet packages for Filipino students.
Tulfo said the proposal would help families who are struggling with the rising cost of internet access, especially when schools shift to online classes because of bad weather.
Senate Bill No. 2275, or the “Student Load Discount Act,” would cover Filipino students in elementary, high school, technical-vocational and college.
“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.
The proposed discount would be available all year, including weekends and holidays.
Students would need to show a valid school ID or proof of enrollment and a birth certificate to get the discount.
Telecommunications companies would be required to provide the discount to qualified students. Companies that refuse could face penalties.
Tulfo said the way schools handle class suspensions has changed because many schools now shift to online learning when classes are cancelled.
“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,” he 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,” Tulfo added.IMT
