The House of Representatives approved on final reading House Bill No. 178, also known as the “Automatic Refund for Internet and Telecommunications Services Outages and Disruptions Act,” on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025.
The proposed measure requires public telecommunications entities and internet service providers to automatically refund customers for lost internet service during outages and service interruptions.
Under the bill, subscribers are entitled to a refund corresponding to the duration of the internet connection loss when a service outage or disruption occurs. The refund mechanism aims to hold service providers accountable for service failures experienced by consumers.
However, the measure outlines specific exemptions. Scheduled maintenance activities are not considered service outages, provided customers are informed at least 48 hours before the maintenance begins. The bill also states that scheduled maintenance should not exceed a total of 48 hours per month.
Service interruptions caused by natural disasters are also excluded from refundable outages. These include damage or disruptions resulting from calamities such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and other similar events beyond the control of service providers.
Lawmakers said these exemptions were included to balance consumer protection with operational realities faced by telecommunications companies.
House Bill No. 178 received overwhelming support from legislators, passing with a unanimous vote of 271-0. The vote reflects strong backing in the chamber for measures that strengthen consumer rights in the telecommunications and internet services sector.
With its approval on final reading, the bill is expected to move forward in the legislative process before it can become a full-fledged law.
If enacted, the measure would establish a mandatory refund system for internet service outages, setting clearer standards for accountability among telecommunications firms and internet providers operating in the country.
