‘Konektadong Pinoy’ gets strong backing from tech industry

Six major tech industry groups have thrown their full support behind the proposed “Konektadong Pinoy Act”, a bill that aims to revolutionize internet access in the Philippines by modernizing infrastructure policies and opening up the market to more players.

In a joint statement last week, the Global AI Council Philippines, Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines, Data Center Association of the Philippines, Fintech Philippines Association, and Go Digital Philippines said the measure is a critical step toward building a more connected and competitive nation.

The bill—already approved on third and final reading in the Senate—seeks to replace outdated, analog-era regulations with a modern framework that will foster healthy competition, enable infrastructure sharing, and improve spectrum management.

“This will lower internet costs, expand connectivity to underserved areas, and empower both consumers and businesses,” the groups said.

However, the coalition warned against the inclusion of data localization and sovereignty provisions in the final version of the law.

They said requiring data to be stored or processed only within Philippine territory would raise costs, stifle innovation, and hurt small businesses and investors. It could also weaken the global competitiveness of the country’s digital and IT-BPM sectors.

“Data security is not about where data is stored, but how it is protected,” the groups emphasized. “Localization mandates could even increase cybersecurity risks by preventing coordinated threat detection and response.”

Despite broad support, the bill has also faced criticism from some sectors. The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) has flagged the proposed removal of the congressional franchise requirement for data transmission providers, saying it may clash with constitutional and fair competition principles.

Meanwhile, the Federation of International Cable TV Associations of the Philippines (FICTAP) has appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto the bill, citing regulatory challenges faced by other countries with similar liberalization measures. Telco giant PLDT has likewise raised concerns over certain provisions.

Still, the tech industry groups believe the “Konektadong Pinoy Act” offers a unique opportunity to close the country’s digital divide.

“This is a moment for bold policy change,” they said, “not a step back into outdated restrictions.”