This is a Press Release from Better Internet PH
Civil society group Better Internet PH (BIP) commended the Marcos Administration and key government executives on their definitive support for the proposed Konektadong Pinoy (Open Access in Data Transmission) Act.
“Because President Marcos certified the bill as urgent, Konektadong Pinoy hurdled the Senate for the first time and progressed until it was finally ratified by Congress. Despite strong opposition from big business, we hope that the President will demonstrate the political will to sign the Konektadong Pinoy bill into law, making better internet for Filipinos a lasting part of his legacy,” according to BIP Lead Advocate Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos.
The Konektadong Pinoy bill, which aims to encourage the entry of more data transmission providers to build broadband networks, was also included among the priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) chaired by the President.
In the Executive, the push for the passage of Konektadong Pinoy is backed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).
According to Mirandilla-Santos, “the unified and unequivocal position of the key agencies in charge of ICT, economic development, and competition reflects the huge importance of digital connectivity for the Philippines, and the potential transformative impact of the Konektadong Pinoy bill on the nation’s digitalization.”
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda asserted that the Konektadong Pinoy bill “squarely addresses affordability because the more competition… the public will have more choices, which would bring down prices.” Responding to security concerns raised by some critics of the bill, Aguda said that “cybersecurity will always be at the heart of Konektadong Pinoy.” In a statement, the DICT said the bill “modernizes and strengthens [the government’s] mandate to respond faster and more effectively to digital age challenges… [which] include the ability to issue compliance directives on cybersecurity, quality of service, and fair competition under streamlined frameworks.”
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan called Konektadong Pinoy “a game changer.” The bill is “a transformative step toward bridging this digital divide and accelerating national development,” said Balisacan in an op-ed. In the LEDAC, Secretary Balisacan emphasized the significance of Konektadong Pinoy as “crucial to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, as it will usher advancements across various sectors, including ICT, education, health, and agriculture.”
Meanwhile, PCC Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo said that Konektadong Pinoy is aligned with their mandate to foster fair and open markets to benefit Filipinos. “By institutionalizing competition in the digital infrastructure sector, the bill can help lower costs, improve service quality, and expand access, especially in underserved areas,” Aguinaldo said.
“With strong backing from the Executive branch–and the promise of ‘a nation that is connected, empowered, and prepared for the digital age’–we are hopeful that President Marcos will sign Konektadong Pinoy into law immediately,” Mirandilla-Santos concluded.
“‘Bagong Pilipinas’ can only happen if we change the status quo. Konektadong Pinoy will change a broken system and outdated laws. It will improve internet connectivity and make the dream of a ‘digital-ready and future-oriented’ country a reality.”