Philippine technology organizations have voiced their support for the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act, which they say could modernize the nation’s outdated digital infrastructure policies and help close the “connectivity gap.”
In a joint statement over the weekend, the Global AI Council Philippines, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, the Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines, the Data Center Association of the Philippines, the Fintech Philippines Association and Go Digital Philippines noted the bill’s objectives of expanding internet access and improving digital services nationwide.
The groups said that by updating “analog-era regulations,” the bill would foster competition, ease market entry for new participants, enable infrastructure sharing, and enhance spectrum management. The outcome, according to the groups, would be “cheaper, faster and more widely available internet,” particularly in underserved and remote areas.
The tech groups also cited the bill’s role in empowering consumers and businesses. They described the Act as “a major step toward building a more inclusive and competitive digital economy,” adding it would empower consumers through better service standards and strengthen the ability of small businesses, startups, and communities to participate meaningfully in the digital space.
The coalition urged lawmakers to remove any data localization or sovereignty provisions from the final version of the measure, which would require data to be stored or processed strictly within Philippine borders. They warned that such requirements would “drive up business costs, disrupt operations and limit access to technologies such as cloud computing and AI.” This, they argued, would harm small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), deter investment, and weaken the competitiveness of the Philippine IT-BPM and digital sectors.
They said the country already has safeguards under the Data Privacy Act and aligns with international best practices like the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules, rendering data localization unnecessary.
The groups said “data security is not about where data is stored, it is about how it is protected,” and noted that “localization mandates may even increase cybersecurity risks by hindering coordinated threat detection and response.”
The tech groups expressed their readiness to work with the government in realizing the law’s vision. They said the Konektadong Pinoy Act “has the potential to be a foundation for digital transformation” and expressed their anticipation of its passage and collaboration with the government to achieve a more connected Philippines.
Both houses of Congress ratified the Konektadong Pinoy bill on June 9, and it now awaits President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature to become law.
