Senator Alan Peter Cayetano aims to close the gap between the Philippines’ digital infrastructure versus neighboring Southeast Asian countries, which he says affects not only businesses but all Filipinos, especially students and teachers, who rely on the internet for education, work, and daily activities.
“If we cannot have this, don’t expect our productivity to increase,” Cayetano said.
This is why Cayetano is actively pushing for the swift passage of Senate Bill 2699, more known as the ‘Konektadong Pinoy Act.’
“Unless we pay attention to this, we will not catch up with our neighbors,” Cayetano emphasized. “Once we made this, we will really see the difference of having reliable and affordable connections in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.”
He further expressed his belief that the country’s push for e-governance, which is crucial for streamlining government services and reducing corruption, will not be effective if internet connectivity remains poor and expensive.
The ‘Konektadong Pinoy Act’ aims to update outdated telecommunications rules that have made it difficult to improve internet connectivity in the Philippines.
By removing the need for a legislative franchise, the bill simplifies the approval process for telecom companies, making it easier for new players to enter the market and drive competition.
This, in turn, is expected to lower costs and improve the quality of services available to consumers.
The bill also addresses the efficient management of the radio spectrum, which is essential for expanding coverage and enhancing service quality, particularly in areas that are currently underserved.
Additionally, it promotes infrastructure sharing among telecom companies, which helps reduce operational costs and makes it easier to extend services to regions with limited or no connectivity.
