The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) yesterday sought to manage expectations amid the lapsing into law Sunday of the Konektadong Pinoy (Open Access in Data Transmission) Act, a landmark measure designed to overhaul the country’s data transmission landscape.
The legislation, which seeks to streamline licensing, promote infrastructure sharing, and allow new players to provide wired and wireless internet services without the need for a congressional franchise, has become the center of a national policy debate, pitting major telecommunications operators against a growing coalition of government, business, and civic groups.
The DEPDev issued a statement yesterday assuring that it remains committed to working with partners to ensure that the implementation of the landmark Konektadong Pinoy law will remain faithful to its objective while addressing stakeholders’ concerns.
The DEPDev said it will “provide evidence-based guidance and pursue an inclusive process in crafting the law’s implementing rules and regulations, ensuring that the promise of this reform brings real, equitably shared, and lasting gains for the country.’
“The Konektadong Pinoy (KP) Act is 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,” Arsenio Balisacan, DEPDev secretary, said. “This is a future where no Filipino is left behind and accessible digital opportunities uplift every individual, home, livelihood, and community.”
The DEPDev said that the law will “bridge the digital divide and advance digital transformation under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028.”
“Reliable and affordable internet means more students, especially those in remote areas of the country, can gain access to online learning resources,” Balisacan said. “Micro, small, and medium enterprises can reach broader markets, while clinics can deliver telehealth to those who are unable to travel to regional centers. Our farmers and fisherfolk can access timely market and weather information that will allow them to manage their crops more effectively. Citizens will also find it easier and less costly to access government services.”
Balisacan said the KP Act brings more competition into the market, while promoting infrastructure sharing for faster rollout, and ensuring more efficient use of radio frequency spectrum.
“These reforms will deliver wider coverage, faster speeds, and more affordable internet, making digitalization a stronger engine of productivity and inclusive growth. Stronger digital infrastructure, in turn, enhances resilience during disasters by keeping households, workplaces, and public services connected,” he said.
Indeed, industry stakeholders have predicted that the measure will accelerate the rollout of internet services to tens of thousands of underserved villages across the archipelago, particularly in remote communities and schools where connectivity remains limited.
But some telecommunications firms have raised concerns, arguing that opening the sector to new entrants without a legislative franchise could put them at a disadvantage. There are also fears that new competitors would be able to use existing infrastructure without obtaining cybersecurity clearance first.
Add to this the warning by some of the country’s largest service providers that reform could lead to regulatory loopholes and unfair market practices.
Balisacan said the law has gone a long way since it was initially proposed, with the DEPDev working closely with its reform partners.
