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, numerous civil society organisations joined together to call 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.
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.