Ex-telco group official backs Konektadong Pinoy Bill

A former official of the Philippine Cable and Telecommunication Association (PCTA) on Wednesday aired its support for the passage of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which, according to the group, is expected to generate new employment opportunities and significantly reduce internet prices in the country.

In a television interview, Joel Luis Dabao, former president of the PCTA, said the Marcos administration’s target of cutting internet costs in the country by as much as 50 percent could become a reality through the measure.

“There are only a handful of players in that space. And if we have more, we can expect that cost to go down significantly,” Dabao said, adding that once enacted into law, it will spur digital investments in rural areas and help connect far-flung communities across the country.

The Senate and the House of Representatives earlier ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Konektadong Pinoy Act, and the measure is now awaiting the President’s approval.

Dabao further stressed that by opening up the industry to more players, more jobs will be created, particularly in remote areas where digital transformation can help drive economic growth and improve quality of life.

“We need it for everything. We want all of our government services to be online. We want our health to go online. We want education to go online. We want people to start using AI. For all of these things, you need the internet,” Dabao said.

Konektadong Pinoy is deemed to end the outdated congressional franchise requirement for data transmission providers, and will break the decades-long duopoly and open the door to more affordable, faster, and reliable internet, especially for far-flung and underserved communities.

For his part, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda recently welcomed the measure, stating that it would help create a more inclusive and affordable digital ecosystem while accelerating the rollout of next-generation technologies, such as 5G.

Aguda believes that President Marcos will sign it into law, noting that Konektadong Pinoy is among the priority legislation of the present administration, as agreed upon during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting.

Meanwhile, Arsenio Balisacan, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) secretary, described the measure as a "game changer" as it introduces comprehensive reforms designed to open the market, enhance competition, reduce network rollout costs, and increase the quality and availability of digital services.

"The bill removes the requirement for a legislative franchise to build and operate data transmission infrastructure. Instead, a streamlined registration or authorization process with the National Telecommunications Commission will make it easier for new players to enter the market, especially in underserved areas," he said.

Dabao also allayed concerns that the measure might lead to an uneven playing field, saying the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission are empowered to establish standards that all players will be required to follow, including existing providers.

“So, whatever they have to follow, the new players are going to have to follow as the law states very specifically,” he stressed.

Earlier, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) also backed the passage of the bill, stating that it will further aid and guide micro, small, and medium enterprises into their technological journeys.

“Harnessing the power of AI requires robust connectivity. With Konektadong Pinoy, businesses of all sizes can leverage AI and other digital technologies to increase productivity and develop a globally competitive workforce,” said ECOP chairman Edgardo Lacson in an earlier statement.