In the Philippines, 23 organisations are calling on the country's president to certify as urgent the proposed “Konektadong Pinoy Act”, which would entail the passage of a bill to increase private sector and community investment in broadband infrastructure and boost connectivity.
The proposed “Konektadong Pinoy Act”, also known as the “Open Access in Data Transmission Act”, was recently filed as a senate bill in the country. Ahead of the 2024 State of the Nation Address, the organisations involved called on Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as urgent. According to them, beyond increasing private sector and community investment in broadband infrastructure, the bill should also update the analog-era policies that have long stifled internet connectivity in the country.
"This legislation aims to boost connectivity, spur innovation, attract investments, and create jobs across multiple sectors," said a press release from the Senate of the Philippines quoted in a joint statement released by the organisations. The signatories to the joint statement include both Philippine business groups as well as national, regional and international civil society organisations, including the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and its member organisations Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA).
The Konektadong Pinoy Act envisions enabling the ease of doing business by simplifying the licensing process for internet network and service providers; making it faster and more efficient for providers to build networks by promoting infrastructure sharing and streamlining the permits approval process; and providing wider access to radio spectrum for wireless internet by making this resource available to more providers, especially in rural areas. These are important measures to bridge the internet connectivity gap in the country and support community-centred models that can reach previously underserved areas.
"We, the signatories, believe that the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act is the key to unlocking the potential of a more digitally inclusive, economically vibrant, and prosperous country. We therefore urge the President to champion the bill that will transform the Philippines," highlighted the groups.
Read the full statement and the list of signatories here.