The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) said Monday the new law aimed at improving internet access would boost the country’s digital economy and help bridge the digital divide.
The Konektadong Pinoy (KP) Act, which lapse into law, is designed to increase market competition, promote infrastructure sharing and ensure a more efficient use of radio frequency spectrum, the DEPDev said in a statement.
“Reliable and affordable internet means more students, especially those in remote areas of the country, can gain access to online learning resources,” DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.
He said small businesses would be able to reach broader markets and clinics could deliver telehealth services, while farmers and fisherfolk could get timely market and weather information.
The legislation will deliver wider coverage and faster internet speeds, which will make “digitalization a stronger engine of productivity and inclusive growth,” according to the DEPDev. The agency said stronger digital infrastructure would also enhance resilience during natural disasters.
DEPDev said it had championed the measure, producing a policy note on the telecommunications sector in 2024 and recommending its inclusion in the government’s legislative agenda.
The department also thanked its partners in the public and private sectors for their efforts in making the reform possible, and recognized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for certifying the bill as urgent, which helped secure its passage.
Balisacan called the law a “game-changing measure that will revolutionize and boost our digital economy, bringing us closer to our shared vision of a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay,” a Filipino phrase for a stable, comfortable and secure life.
