Senator Alan Peter Cayetano took to the session floor on Monday to sponsor the Konektadong Pinoy Act, a landmark bill that he said will pave the way for reliable, affordable, accessible internet connection in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
“This is a bill that is long overdue. I’m talking about the act establishing a comprehensive and inclusive data transmission and connectivity framework for the Philippines,” Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said on August 5, 2024.
Cayetano said Senate bill #2699 under Committee Report number 262 will mark a significant step for the country’s internet connection in terms of accessing reliable and affordable internet.
Outlining four critical areas of concern, he said this can be accomplished by streamlined authorization processes, spectrum management, infrastructure development, and enforcement and monitoring of service providers that will enter the market.
“There are many countries poorer than us, pero ang baba ng ating average na mga bahay na mayro’n pong fix na broadband. Pagdating naman sa mobile, oo nga mas marami pang cellphone sa tao sa Pilipinas, but only 70 percent use the internet. And then isa pa tayo sa pinakamahal,” Cayetano said.
“I really feel that this is an opportunity to comprehensively approach this and once magawa natin to, we will in a year, two, or three years see the difference of having reliable, affordable, accessible internet connection in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao,” he added.
Cayetano also urged his colleagues in the Senate as well as advocacy groups and non-government organizations to submit their input for this bill.
“We need your input and I look forward to discussing this bill in the next few days, and hopefully [this] August matapos natin,” he said.