Media Statement
August 29, 2024
The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) called on the Senate to resume plenary deliberations on the Konektadong Pinoy Act (also known as the Open Access in Data Transmission Act). This comes after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, delivered his sponsorship speech on August 5. Since then no action on the bill has been taken.
“The foreign chambers look forward to the enactment of the Konektadong Pinoy Act (Open Access), given the support of the executive, with NEDA as the main champion. This bill is crucial to achieving the President’s call for digitalization. Open Access will simplify the licensing of broadband network operators, which will support ease of entry and ease of doing business and attract foreign investors to enter the Philippine market. Having multiple and diverse network operators promotes the resiliency and security of the Internet for all Filipinos,” said the JFC.
Konektadong Pinoy has been consistently approved by the House of Representatives since the 17th Congress. In the current 19th Congress, the lower house under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez passed the bill on Third Reading in December 2022. To date, the two chambers are aligned, with Senate President Chiz Escudero giving priority to Konektadong Pinoy.
The Konektadong Pinoy bill seeks to empower ISPs in bringing accessible, reliable, and affordable internet to communities. It will do so by simplifying the approval process for network operators, making it easier for new players to enter the market and drive competition; promoting efficient management of the radio spectrum, which is essential for expanding coverage of wireless internet, particularly in areas that are currently underserved; and promoting the sharing of infrastructure, which helps reduce operational costs and makes it easier to extend services to regions with limited or no connectivity.
The JFC recently joined 17 other organizations, including the Philippine Business Groups, ICT groups and civil society groups, in calling on PBBM to certify the bill as urgent for immediate enactment.
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