Senators have hailed the enactment of the landmark "Konektadong Pinoy” law, which Malacañang said lapsed into law over the weekend.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero described the law Monday, Aug. 25 as a giant step toward bridging the digital divide in the country due to poor connectivity, prohibitive cost, and absence of infrastructure, particularly in far-flung and underserved areas.

By easing the entry of new players into the data transmission or internet service industry, Escudero is confident that the cost of connectivity in the country will go down significantly as “there will be greater competition and more choices for consumers” under the measure identified as one of the priority bills of the administration.

“The Philippines has one of the highest Internet connectivity costs in the world considering the speeds it offers to consumers. But more than bringing down the rates, the Konektadong Pinoy Act is about providing greater access to information and markets to Filipinos who live far from the cities and in remote areas,” he said.

According to the Senate President, the education sector stands to benefit the most from the law--also known as the Open Access in Data Transmission Act--where access to fast and affordable internet is critical.

“We will see a faster rollout of long overdue Internet connectivity services in every town and barrio in the Philippines, and hopefully our industry giants will support the implementation of the law and work with government as partners of growth and digital inclusivity for all Filipinos,” he said.

The new law is seen to help achieve the Marcos administration’s ambitious goal of bridging the digital divide by connecting all of the country’s 11,000 remote and underserved barangays, as well as slash Internet connectivity costs by half by the year 2028.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano similarly welcomed the lapsing into law of the measure, which sought to ensure reliable, affordable, and accessible internet connectivity across the Philippines.

"We welcome this law that modernizes our digital infrastructure, ensuring that all Filipinos have access to, and the use of, affordable, quality, and up-to-date information and communication technologies," Cayetano said on Sunday, Aug. 24.

The senator sponsored the measure in the previous 19th Congress as chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

In ensuring effective implementation, he stressed the importance of aligning the Konektadong Pinoy Act with various Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laws.

During the Act’s period of amendments, Cayetano said the Konektadong Pinoy Bill will not be taken in isolation “because there's the [need to also implement the] E-Governance Act, Creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), other ICT bills, and the masterplan for the country's digital highway".

"Kasi kahit anong gaganda ng plano mo for ICT, kung di ka rin connected, wala ring mangyayari (No matter how great your plans are for ICT, they are useless if there is no connectivity)," he explained, adding that these will be reinforced in the Act's Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The Konektadong Pinoy measure primarily aims to make it easier for service providers to enter the market, fostering competition, and offering consumers a greater number and more affordable options for internet services.

The bill also seeks to ensure that incoming service providers have access to telecommunications infrastructure while setting standards to protect consumers. It upholds users' rights as well by ensuring quality service, requiring providers to meet minimum service standards.

The law will also prioritize the installation of infrastructure in areas near educational institutions and offer students in public and private schools appropriate discounts as part of the DTIPs' corporate social responsibility.