The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) called for the swift approval of the “Konektadong Pinoy” bill, also known as the Open Access in Data Transmission measure, to ensure affordable, reliable and fast internet access for all Filipinos.
“The Konektadong Pinoy bill is crucial to the Philippine Development Plan [PDP] 2023-2028, as it will usher advancements across various sectors including ICT, education, health, and agriculture,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said during the sixth Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.
Chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the LEDAC previously identified the Konektadong Pinoy bill as a priority within the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) for passage before the end of the 19th Congress. The bill already received approval from the House of Representatives and was awaiting plenary deliberation in the Senate.
Senate Bill 2699, or the Konektadong Pinoy bill, aims to enhance market accessibility, upgrade both physical and digital infrastructure and facilitate full participation of individuals and businesses in the digital economy, thereby providing affordable internet access to every Filipino.
Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez provided updates on the status of priority CLA bills.
Since the fifth LEDAC meeting on June 25, 2024, two of the 28 priority CLA bills—the New Government Procurement Act and the Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act—were signed into law by the President.
Two other measures approved by Congress, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act and the VAT on Digital Services Bill, await the President’s signature.
Six bills are next in line for approval of the President including Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act; Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act; Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act; Philippine Maritime Zones Act; Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act; and Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act.
