SENATE Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has filed a bill seeking to grant a 20% student discount for digital communication and internet services, aiming to empower students and foster a more equitable educational environment.

Tolentino’s Senate Bill 2972, or the proposed Student Load Discount Act, mandates a 20% discount on mobile load, text, call, and internet services for eligible students.

The measure, Tolentino said, will ease the financial burden on students related to digital communication and online resources, which have become essential to education in recent years.

The proposal covers students at the primary, secondary, technical-vocational, and tertiary levels. Post-graduate students are excluded from the discount.

“This initiative is intended to promote educational equity, enhance digital literacy, and foster collaboration between the government and telecommunications companies to meet students’ needs,” Tolentino stated in his bill’s explanatory note.

To avail of the discount, students must present a valid school ID or proof of enrollment. The discount will be available year-round for personal educational use.

Additionally, SB 2972 allows telecommunications companies to claim tax deductions for the discounts they provide under the proposal.

“This creates an incentive for companies to actively support students’ educational needs,” Tolentino pointed out.

“The collaboration between the government, educational institutions, and telecommunications companies is key to the success of this initiative, ultimately paving the way for a brighter future for the country’s youth,” the senator concluded.