The proposed bill, titled the “Refund for Internet and Telecommunications Service Outages and Disruptions Act,” seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7925, or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, to ensure that subscribers pay only for services they actually receive.
The father and son tandem reasoned that despite existing policies mandating innovation and service expansion, the Philippines continues to grapple with high costs and inconsistent internet reliability.
Citing the 2025 Surfshark Digital Quality of Life Index, the lawmakers noted that the Philippines ranks 57th globally, with internet affordability lagging significantly at 105th. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the country remains among the most expensive in Southeast Asia for fixed broadband services, with average monthly costs at around ₱2,049, even as connection consistency remains a major concern for millions of users.
House Bill No. 7027 proposes a mandatory, automatic refund or bill adjustment mechanism for both postpaid and prepaid subscribers who experience an aggregate service outage of at least 24 hours within a single month.
Under the measure, telecommunications companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be required to provide refunds on a pro-rated basis, without requiring customers to file complaints or take any action to claim compensation.
“Filipinos should not have to go through long and tedious processes just to get compensated for poor service. By making refunds automatic, this measure protects consumers’ rights and pushes providers to improve reliability in a digital economy that millions of Filipinos now depend on every day,” Davao City 2nd District Rep. Omar Duterte said.
The proposed legislation defines key terms such as internet service outages and fortuitous events, ensuring clarity in implementation while balancing consumer protection with reasonable exemptions for uncontrollable circumstances.
“This measure puts fairness back into the system by making refunds automatic and removing the burden from consumers,” Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said.
“If people are paying for uninterrupted service, then service providers must be held accountable when that standard is not met,” he added.
The lawmakers expressed hope that the measure will push telecommunications companies to improve service reliability, promote transparency, and restore public trust in the country’s digital infrastructure.