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[MEDIA RELEASE] Stakeholders call on the Senate to Immediately Approve Konektadong Pinoy Bill amid Presidential Certification

MEDIA RELEASE
January 30, 2025

 

Stakeholders have called on the Senate to immediately pass the proposed Konektadong Pinoy bill in the remaining session days of the 19th Congress. The call was issued amid President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s certification as urgent of Senate Bill No. 2699 on January 27, 2025.

The groups expressed their thanks to President Marcos for his decisive action in support of Konektadong Pinoy. Stakeholders also laud the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) for championing the passage of the bill.

Versions of the Konektadong Pinoy bill, or the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act, have passed on Third Reading in the House of Representatives for three Congresses since the 17th Congress. Movement of the legislation stalled in the Senate in previous years, with now representing the bill’s best chance of passage thanks to strong backing from President Marcos.

With Konektadong Pinoy certified as urgent, the fate of this landmark digital connectivity legislation now rests in the hands of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chairperson of the Committee on Science and Technology. The bill was sponsored on August 5, 2024, but has remained pending. Stakeholders look forward to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero leading the passage of the bill now that it has been certified as urgent.

The Konektadong Pinoy bill aims to empower more players to build digital infrastructure, which will address the country’s growing digital divide and allow more Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of digitalization. It will do so by simplifying the licensing process for network providers and, following global practice, giving this mandate to the industry regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission.

The Philippines has consistently ranked poorly in global and regional ICT rankings, including the Digital Competitiveness Index and Network Readiness Index. Philippine Internet is one of the slowest but also one of the most expensive in the world. Poor digital connectivity in the country can be attributed to outdated laws that discourage investment and prevent new players from putting up much-needed Internet infrastructure, especially in the countryside.

The stakeholders, who also previously signed a joint statement urging the President to prioritize and certify Konektadong Pinoy as urgent, are:

• Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation (ATIN)
• American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AMCHAM)
• Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP)
• Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA)
• Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
• Better Internet PH (BIP)
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CANCHAM)
• Democracy.net.ph
• Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP)
• European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)
• Fintech Alliance.PH
• Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
• Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP)
• Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA)
• Internet Society (ISOC)
• Internet Society – Philippines Chapter (ISOC-PH)
• The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines (JCCIPI)
• Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines (KCCP)
• National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP)
• Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc. (PAMURI)
• Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association, Inc (PCTA)
• Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)
• Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT)

Konektadong Pinoy was one of two bills certified as urgent by the Office of the President on Tuesday. The other bill, on the postponement of BARMM elections, passed on Second Reading that same day.

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