Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for lower call and text rates and for mobile load that does not expire, according to a report by Manila Bulletin published on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
The report, which did not include full details of the proposal, indicates that Legarda is seeking regulatory or legislative action to address consumer concerns over the cost of basic mobile services in the Philippines. Her push targets the standard practice among local telecom providers of setting expiration periods on prepaid load, which forces users to top up regularly even if they have unused credits.
Manila Bulletin’s coverage highlights two core demands: a reduction in the per-minute and per-message charges that Filipino subscribers pay, and a shift toward non-expiring load. The latter would allow prepaid users to keep their remaining balance indefinitely, rather than losing it after a set number of days. This is a recurring issue for many low-income users who rely on prepaid plans and may not use their phones frequently enough to consume load before it lapses.
The senator’s initiative comes amid ongoing public debate over the affordability and fairness of telecom pricing in the country. While the report does not specify whether Legarda has filed a bill or is merely calling on regulators, the timing suggests a renewed focus on consumer protection in the telecommunications sector.
What to watch next is whether the National Telecommunications Commission or major carriers respond with concrete rate adjustments or policy changes in the coming months.
