Holders of gift certificates should not worry, even if they have not been used for a long time, because they have no expiration. This was clarified by the Public Attorney's Office over the weekend.

According to PAO chief Atty. Persida Acosta, all gift certificates and gift cards remain valid no matter how long they've been given.

Acosta cited Republic Act 10962, otherwise known as the "Gift Check Act of 2017," which removesd all expiration dates for gift cards and similar gift certificates.

She said gift certificates represent value held in trust by the person who issued them.

"Toward this end, the state recognizes that a gift check represents value held in trust by the issuer thereof on behalf of its beneficiary or bearer and that consumers must not be unduly deprived of the value of their money," Acosta added.

The PAO chief said companies can only refuse to honor gift certificates when the cards are lost, mutilated or defaced.