CIVIL society group Better Internet PH (BIP) urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday to sign the Konektadong Pinoy bill into law, despite strong opposition from big business.
“Despite strong opposition from big business, we hope that the President will demonstrate the political will to sign the Konektadong Pinoy bill into law, making better internet for Filipinos a lasting part of his legacy,” BIP lead advocate Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos said in a statement.
The bill, which aims to encourage the entry of more data transmission providers to build broadband networks, was also included among the priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) chaired by the president.
In the Executive, the push for the passage of Konektadong Pinoy is backed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).
According to Mirandilla-Santos, “the unified and unequivocal position of the key agencies in charge of ICT, economic development, and competition reflects the huge importance of digital connectivity for the Philippines, and the potential transformative impact of the Konektadong Pinoy bill on the nation’s digitalization.”
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the bill “squarely addresses affordability because the more competition… the public will have more choices, which would bring down prices.”
Responding to security concerns raised by some critics of the bill, Aguda said that “cybersecurity will always be at the heart of Konektadong Pinoy.”
The bill modernizes and strengthens the government’s mandate to respond faster and more effectively to digital age challenges, including the ability to issue compliance directives on cybersecurity, quality of service, and fair competition under streamlined frameworks, the DICT also said in a statement.
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan called the bill a game changer, highlighting it as crucial to the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 for driving progress in ICT, education, health, and agriculture.
For his part, PCC Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo said Konektadong Pinoy is aligned with their mandate to foster fair and open markets to benefit Filipinos.
“By institutionalizing competition in the digital infrastructure sector, the bill can help lower costs, improve service quality, and expand access, especially in underserved areas,” Aguinaldo said.
Mirandilla-Santos added that with strong backing from the executive branch “we are hopeful that President Marcos will sign Konektadong Pinoy into law immediately.”
Meanwhile, telecom companies Globe and PLDT have opposed to certain provisions of the bill, citing concerns about constitutionality and unfair competition.
While both companies support the goal of expanding affordable internet access, they argue that the bill, in its current form, may lead to an uneven playing field in the industry.
Globe, in a statement on August 13, reiterated its commitment to inclusive connectivity but urged Marcos to return the bill to Congress for further refinement.
Globe also called for close collaboration between the government, industry stakeholders, and Congress to ensure that the KP Bill not only accelerates connectivity but also integrates vital safeguards for long-term stability, fairness, and security in the digital ecosystem.
PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan also called on the president to veto the bill, citing constitutional issues. He raised concerns about provisions that require telcos to open their infrastructure to data transmission providers, which he believes lack legal basis.
Both companies are calling for closer collaboration among government, Congress, and industry stakeholders to ensure the bill supports long-term digital growth while protecting fair competition.
