PH Senate okays Konektadong Pinoy Act to boost Net connection
The proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act (KPA) has been passed by the Senate on third and final reading. The law aims to improve the country’s internet connection, which is one of the slowest and most expensive in the region. The senators on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2025) approved Senate Bill (SB) 2699 which encouraged more local and foreign investments to improve internet infrastructure.
Sen. Grace Poe said: “By easing registration and injecting much-needed competition in our ICT industry, we hope to achieve the internet infra that our digitally hungry fellow Filipinos deserve.” The Philippines “is also one of the most expensive internet connections in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and ranks 4th in terms of time spent on social media,” she added.
The senator said that in 2023, the Philippines ranked 124 out of 169 countries in terms of ICT (information and communications technology) development. Being one of the proponents of the bill, Poe raised the need to ensure that the country’s digital transformation is equitable and inclusive. She said that the World Bank, in its 2024 Policy Paper, cited the country’s outdated legal framework as one of the key barriers to market entry and investment.
The KPA aims to simplify the process for telecommunications companies to get approval, manage the radio spectrum more effectively to enhance service quality and coverage, require telecommunications companies to share infrastructure with new companies, and set performance standards to ensure effective implementation and protect Filipino consumers.
The 2025 national budget, which Poe sponsored, also saw significant increases in ICT items, particularly for the Free Wifi Program, which was raised to P7.5 billion from P2.5 billion in 2024. “We can never be a fast-growing economy with a slow internet. By easing registration and injecting competition in our ICT industry, we hope to achieve the internet infrastructure that our digitally hungry kababayan deserve,” Poe said.
In a related ASI article (October 2024), the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved 268.22 million euros ($287.24 million) in funding for the Philippines Digital Infrastructure Project. This project will invest in the government’s national fiber optic backbone, middle-mile, and last-mile connectivity infrastructure, while ensuring these facilities are secure against cybersecurity threats and climate risks. With the approval of the funding, more than 20 million Filipinos are going to enjoy better internet connectivity across the country.
Reference: Senate approves Konektadong Pinoy bill
