Question & AnswerQ&A (NTC-DICT-DTI JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 05-12-2017)
The prescribed expiration period for prepaid loads is one (1) year or 365 days from the date of the latest top-up.
A 'bucket of services' is a unit of storage that includes an array of services such as calls, SMS, internet/data or content purchased by a subscriber for a specific volume, value, and/or duration.
ICT Providers refer to any entities in the ICT sector including telecommunications and broadcast information operators, ICT equipment manufacturers, multimedia content developers and providers, ICT solution providers, internet service providers, ICT training institutions, software developers, and ICT-ES providers.
The Circular covers all prepaid loads of all ICT providers and public telecommunications entities in the Philippines.
Yes, public telecommunications entities may offer longer validity periods for prepaid loads beyond the one (1) year prescribed.
No, prepaid loads purchased for promos and bucket services with specific use periods that are duly approved by DTI and/or NTC are excluded from the one-year expiration rule.
Violations are penalized in accordance with the provisions of the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, the DICT Act of 2015, their IRR, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations of NTC and DICT.
False, deceptive, and misleading advertisements and promotions on prepaid load and bucket services are penalized under the Consumer Act of the Philippines and other relevant DTI regulations.
This Circular took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon furnishing three certified true copies to the UP Law Center.