The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has urged the swift passage of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill to ensure improved internet access.
After the sixth Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Sept. 25, NEDA released a statement indicating that the bill—also known as the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill—reflects the “government’s commitment to ensuring fast, reliable, and affordable internet access for all Filipinos.”
The bill seeks to improve infrastructure and market access, enabling affordable internet for all Filipinos and boosting participation in the digital economy.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized the bill's importance to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028, as it will drive progress in sectors such as ICT, education, health, and agriculture.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as chair of LEDAC, previously marked the Konektadong Pinoy Bill as a priority in the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) for approval before the 19th Congress ends.
“The bill has already received approval from the House of Representatives and is currently awaiting plenary deliberation in the Senate,” NEDA stated.
Since the fifth LEDAC meeting in June, the President has signed two of the 28 priority bills into law: the New Government Procurement Act and the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act.
Two additional measures passed by Congress, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the VAT on Digital Services Bill, are currently awaiting the President's signature.
In total, six bills are pending the President's approval. These include the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, and the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act.
Several priority CLA bills remain under consideration, which encompass the Blue Economy Act, amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, amendments to the Right-of-Way Act, rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime, the E-Government Act / E-Governance Act, the establishment of a Department of Water Resources, amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Act, the Unified System of Separation, Retirement, and Pension of Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP), the Waste-to-Energy Bill, amendments to the Agrarian Reform Law, reforms to Philippine Capital Markets, an excise tax on single-use plastics, amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act, the New Government Auditing Code, and the Philippine Immigration Act.
The LEDAC, which comprises members from the Senate, House of Representatives, and the Cabinet, serves as a high-level advisory group that identifies the government's legislative priorities, with NEDA acting as the Council's Secretariat. (Derco Rosal)