Jonathan Frederic De Santos

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Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Palace said that the Konektadong Pinoy bill, which seeks to broaden internet access, streamline licensing processes and reduce connectivity costs, has lapsed into law.</p><p>Bills forwarded to the Palace for the President&#x27;s signature face enactment or veto. Bills may also lapse into law when no action is taken on them 30 days after they are transmitted to the Palace.</p><p>The bill allows new and smaller players to enter the data transmission sector without seeking a legislative franchise and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.</p><p>The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in a release last March said the bill will address roadblocks brought by outdated laws &quot;that [have] stifled competition and innovation for years.&quot;</p><p>In a statement on Sunday, the DICT welcomed the development, with Secretary Henry Aguda saying that the agency will immediately convene stakeholders to draft the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), co-leading the process with the Department of Development (DepDev).</p><p>The IRR must be finalized within 90 days.</p><p>&quot;By making internet access truly universal, we are creating a foundation for better education, e-commerce growth, accessible government services, and stronger communities,&quot; Aguda said. &quot;The President&#x27;s vision is clear: no Filipino should be left behind in the digital age.&quot;</p><p>Some groups and telecommunication companies have raised concerns over the bill due the removal of the legislative franchise requirement for new telco players and cybersecurity concerns.  </p><p>Telco giant PLDT recently said it may challenge the constitutionality of the bill once enacted into law citing concerns on potential discrimination against telco players who have invested in upgrading the country&#x27;s telco infrastructure.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/8/12/pldt-says-it-may-challenge-constitutionality-of-konektadong-pinoy-bill-2307">READ: PLDT says it may challenge constitutionality of Konektadong Pinoy bill</a></div><p>&quot;You cannot ask us to open all our assets to your access and deprive our subscribers of the infrastructure that we built for them,&quot; PLDT Senior Vice President and Senior Legal Advisor to the Chairman Marilyn Victorio-Aquino said during the PLDT First Half Financial and Operating Results press briefing on August 12.</p><p>The PLDT official added that the bill presents potential cybersecurity risks &quot;because within the first two years of Open Access, the data service providers can access our assets without cybersecurity clearance.&quot;</p><p>In January, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified the bill as urgent to &quot;facilitate the development of robust and resilient communications infrastructure&quot; in the country.</p><p>He also said this is to establish a &quot;competitive and innovation-driven data industry that will safeguard the public interest, promote fair competition, encourage investment in critical digital networks, and equip the government and the public with the necessary tools to maintain vital communications channels and effectively respond to emergency situations.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The bill allows new and smaller players to enter the data transmission sector without seeking a legislative franchise and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.</p>

The bill allows new and smaller players to enter the data transmission sector without seeking a legislative franchise and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

‘Konektadong Pinoy’ bill for broader, competitive internet access lapses into law

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‘Konektadong Pinoy’ bill for broader, competitive internet access lapses into law

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 24, 2025 03:27 PM PHT

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Updated August 24, 2025 07:04 PM PHT

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Konektadong Pinoy

Internet

Internet Access

Data transmission

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