On March 28 at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center, leaders from government, business, ICT industry, civil society, and consumer groups converged to call on Congress to act on the Konektadong Pinoy (Open Access in Data Transmission) Bill when session resumes on June 2.
The passage of the proposed legislation, which is also known as Open Data Access bill, was fast-tracked after it was certified as urgent by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Local stakeholders have called on the Senate to immediately pass the bill in the remaining session days of the 19th Congress after Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s certified the legislation as urgent last Jan. 27.
NEDA secretary Arsenio Balisacan the bill is significant and is crucial to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, as it will usher advancements across various sectors, including ICT, education, health, and agriculture.
Ahead of the 2024 State of the Nation Address, 23 organizations called on Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to certify as urgent the proposed “Konektadong Pinoy Act,” also known as the “Open Access in Data Transmission Act,” recently filed as Senate Bill No. 2699 under Committee Report No. 262.
Senate Bill No. 2699, also known as the Konektadong Pinoy Act, seeks to overhaul the nation's outdated telecommunications regulatory framework and align it with the requirements of the digital age.
NEDA said the bill promotes more competition in the telecommunications sector by removing the requirement of a legislative franchise for players seeking to build their networks.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the proposed measure promotes further liberalization of the telecommunications sector by removing the requirement of a legislative franchise for players seeking to build their networks, rationalizing access and use of the country's scarce spectrum resources, and making it easier for entrants to provide better services for consumers at more competitive prices.
NEDA secretary Arsenio Balisacan also underscored the need to safeguard user privacy and data protection amid the rapid proliferation and development of new technologies.
Scott Minehane, an Australia-based international regulatory and strategy lawyer, said the Philippines has the same amount of spectrum as other countries, but it is up to the country to take full advantage and harness its possibilities.
