THE clamor for the Konektadong Pinoy Act has grown too loud to ignore.
From the halls of Congress to the offices of regulators, from boardrooms to grassroots organizations, the call for this landmark measure is unified and emphatic.
The bill is now on the President’s desk and should not remain there a moment longer.
This reform addresses a problem that has hobbled the country for years: slow, costly, and unreliable internet.
Our fixed broadband is among the most expensive in Southeast Asia, yet delivers speeds far behind many of our neighbors.
That gap is more than an inconvenience; it is a drag on economic growth, public services, and the daily productivity of Filipinos.
The KPA’s remedy is straightforward.
It removes the outdated requirement for a congressional franchise to operate data transmission infrastructure, replacing it with a streamlined registration through the National Telecommunications Commission.
This change opens the door to more qualified providers, spurs competition, and accelerates the build-out of essential infrastructure.
The goal is universal, reliable, and affordable connectivity, particularly in underserved areas.
Senior government officials have thrown their weight behind the measure.
The DICT sees the reforms driving lower costs and wider coverage within the next few years. NEDA has emphasized that removing the franchise hurdle is critical to drawing investment into underserved areas.
The Philippine Competition Commission has likewise stressed that formalizing competition will mean lower prices, better service quality, and broader access for consumers.
The bill’s safeguards are strong.
On national security, it mandates cybersecurity certification, spectrum management rules with security provisions, and bars foreign state-controlled entities from strategic positions.
On competition, it enshrines open access, prohibits anti-competitive practices, and requires transparent pricing. Oversight is shared among the NTC, DICT, and PCC to ensure balanced regulation.
Performance standards are built into the law.
The NTC will publish benchmarks for speed, latency, packet loss, and other metrics, ensuring service quality meets international best practices. The DICT’s Cybersecurity Bureau will conduct audits, and all operators must meet national and global cybersecurity standards.
The benefits are wide-ranging: empowering e-governance, healthcare, education, commerce, and disaster preparedness; encouraging investment in satellites and emerging technologies; extending coverage to remote communities; and giving consumers the right to choose their providers and demand better service.
Yes, there are detractors. Some raise national security fears or warn of market disruption. These concerns have been addressed in the bill.
Delaying its enactment allows vested interests to prevail over the public good.
The choice is clear. The Konektadong Pinoy Act is a decisive step toward a more connected Philippines.
The voices calling for this reform represent a broad coalition. Their message is consistent: sign the bill and let the work of building a truly connected nation begin.
