Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he is confident passage into law of the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act will bolster the country’s digital infrastcuture and enhance connectivity for all Filipinos.
This after Cayetano formally filed in the Senate the committee report for Senate Bill No. (SB) 2699, submitted jointly by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology with the public services and finance panels.
“We can no longer afford to be in the dark ages when it comes to the Internet and its accessibility to each and every Filipino,” said Cayetano, chair of the science and technology panel.
The bill primarily seeks four key reforms to ensure more reliable and affordable internet connectivity for everyone by simplifying the process for telecom companies to get approval, removing the need for a legislative franchise.
According to Cayetano, such mechanism will help foster competition, reduce costs, and improve service quality.
Moreover, passage of the bill into law will require telecom companies to share infrastructure, which will lower operational costs and make it easier for new companies to enter the market, especially in areas that currently have little or no service.
Cayetano said he envisions government services to become more accessible to every Filipino with improved internet access streamlining bureaucratic procedures and enabling easier access to public information.
“The use of present technology affords the government the opportunity to bring itself and its services closer to the people,” he said.
With the Senate committee report filed, Cayetano said Filipinos can look forward to internet services that are both reasonably priced and of exceptional quality, particularly in unserved and underserved areas.
“We therefore must modernize our digital infrastructure to ensure that all Filipinos have access to, and the use of, affordable, quality, and up-to-date information and communication technologies," the lawmaker stressed.