Tulfo eyes student internet, mobile load discount

Senator Erwin Tulfo answers questions from members of the media during a press briefing at the Senate in Pasay City on March 5, 2026.

STAR / Ryan Baldemor

MANILA, Philippines — To help families cope with the growing data demands of digital learning, a proposal pushing for a mandatory 20-percent discount on mobile prepaid load, postpaid plans and internet packages for all enrolled Filipino students has been filed at the Senate.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development, filed Senate Bill 2275, or the proposed “Student Load Discount Act” which aims to alleviate the financial burden on students who are frequently forced to transition to online classes due to severe weather conditions.

“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.

Under the proposed bill, the mandatory 20 percent price cut will be available year-round, including weekends and holidays, to ensure uninterrupted academic access.

To claim the discount, students will only need to present a valid school identification card or proof of enrollment, along with a birth certificate to verify their citizenship.

Telecommunications companies will be legally mandated to grant the discount across all eligible services. Non-compliant providers will face strict penalties under the proposed law.

Tulfo said the traditional concept of class suspensions has fundamentally changed, necessitating government intervention to ensure no student is left behind.

He emphasized that students from impoverished backgrounds should not be expected to adapt to these sudden shifts without support.