With just two days left before its potential passage into law, policy advocacy think tank Action for Economic Reforms (AER) is urging President Marcos to sign the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act to democratize connectivity and bridge the digital divide.

“We urge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to heed the call of millions of unconnected Filipinos and demonstrate decisive leadership by prioritizing this legislation,” the group said in a statement on Friday, Aug. 22.

“Every day of delay deepens inequality by denying opportunities to communities that remain disconnected from the digital economy,” it added.

The Konektadong Pinoy Act, a priority measure of the Marcos administration, aims to expand internet connectivity, facilitate a smoother entry for telco operators to boost competition, and reduce internet costs.

After approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the bill is now awaiting Marcos’ signature for its enactment.

The bill may lapse into law on Sunday, Aug. 24 if not acted upon.

Citing data from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the think tank said 45 percent of barangays still lack digital infrastructure, while 38 percent of households are entirely disconnected.

AER said these gaps represent a massive disadvantage for many Filipinos, locking them out of remote work, online education, e-governance, and even basic healthcare services.

“We stand in full solidarity with the Filipino people in calling for its urgent passage. The bill's core objective-democratizing internet access—must not be delayed by misconceptions about its design,” it said.

AER noted that the criticism that the bill allows "free-riding" for new players without building their own network infrastructure is unfounded.

The group said this perspective ignores the “historical inequity” in the current regulatory framework that effectively handled “monopolistic control” to incumbent telco companies.

“Konektadong Pinoy corrects this injustice. By allowing DTIPs (data transmission infrastructure providers) to build and expand their own networks, the bill levels the playing field, fostering competition that will drive down costs and improve service quality,” it explained.

AER noted that by lowering barriers to entry, the proposed legislation would encourage new players to explore underserved regions where incumbents have neglected to invest.

Likewise, it said that the bill will not accelerate the decline of traditional fixed-line services, arguing that this has been deteriorating for over a decade because of the current system that makes it inaccessible.

“The bill promotes the growth of all data transmission networks by encouraging investment in systems, such as satellite communications, and fiber and hybrid networks with built-in redundancy, that are actually more resilient than aging copper networks,” the statement read.

AER underscored that instead of “protecting monopolistic interests,” Marcos should prioritize the Filipino people.

“President Marcos has a historic opportunity to shape the country's digital future, to ensure no Filipino is left offline, no community is left behind, and no monopoly is allowed to dictate our connectivity,” the group said.