DICT pushes KP bill to lower internet costs

Key officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Friday underscored the benefits of the ‘Konektadong Pinoy (KP)’ bill, which aims to boost competition and reduce broadband costs by removing barriers for internet service providers (ISPs).

During a policy conference on the bill in Quezon City, DICT spokesperson Assistant Secretary Renato Paraiso emphasized its goal to lift the franchise requirement for data transmission and ISPs.

“This will not only make connectivity more affordable but will also help level the playing field for business across the country,” Paraiso said.

He noted that the bill promotes internet infrastructure sharing, lowering operational costs for ISPs and making internet services more affordable for consumers.

“The reforms outlined in the bill will foster fair competition by establishing uniform eligibility criteria for all internet service providers regardless of size or technology,” he added.

Paraiso also highlighted the bill’s potential to spur the development of data centers and position the Philippines as a “cyber hub of Southeast Asia.”

“This bill will open the doors to tremendous opportunities including the growth of data centers, positioning the Philippines as a global hub for ICT (information and communications technology) investments and a powerhouse for data infrastructure in the region,” he said.

DICT Policy Planning and Standards Bureau Director Maria Victoria Castro stressed the need to modernize spectrum management laws to improve connectivity.

“For spectrum management, the country can now take advantage of the new technologies and the use of our spectrum, which is a limited resource. And it’s still governed by the 1930s law,” Castro said.

She added that the bill would help provide internet access to around 7,063 geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in the country.

“Our countrymen will now have the chance to access and thrive on digital services as more and more government services are being offered online. Filipinos need not go to Zamboanga or Manila to apply and claim benefits from the SSS (Social Security System) or the GSIS (Government Service Insurance System),” she said.

The KP bill also grants the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) greater authority to ensure a fair and competitive environment for ISPs.

“Government needs to do more to ensure that regulations are in place so that healthy competition can take place. We also need to sustain the momentum and ensure that the reforms can be sustained,” Castro said.

The conference, titled “Konektadong Pinoy: A Pro-Filipino, Pro-Consumer, Pro-Competition Connectivity Law,” was organized by the DICT, PCC, and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), alongside various industry and academic partners.

Senate Bill No. 2699, or the KP bill, was approved by the Senate on third reading on Feb. 5, 2025, while the House of Representatives passed a counterpart measure in 2022.