Technology-based organizations in the Philippines have expressed strong support for the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act, calling it a landmark reform that can modernize the country’s outdated digital infrastructure policies and bridge the connectivity gap.
In a joint statement released on Saturday, six leading industry groups — Global AI Council Philippines, Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines, Data Center Association of the Philippines, Fintech Philippines Association, and Go Digital Philippines — praised the bill’s objectives of expanding internet access and enhancing digital services nationwide.
“We express our strong support for the Konektadong Pinoy Act, a critical reform that will modernize the Philippines’ digital infrastructure policy and help close the country’s connectivity gap,” the groups stated. They highlighted that updating analog-era regulations would foster competition, streamline the entry of new players, enable infrastructure sharing, and improve spectrum management.
The groups emphasized that these changes would lead to cheaper, faster, and more widely available internet, particularly in underserved and remote areas, addressing a long-standing issue in the Philippines where slow and costly connectivity hampers economic inclusion and digital transformation.
The tech organizations also underscored the bill’s significance in empowering consumers and businesses. “The Act is a major step toward building a more inclusive and competitive digital economy,” they noted, adding that it would enhance service standards and strengthen the capacity of small businesses, startups, and communities to engage in the digital space.
However, the coalition urged lawmakers to remove any data localization or sovereignty provisions from the final version of the measure, which would require data to be stored or processed strictly within Philippine borders. “Requiring that data be stored or processed only within Philippine territory will drive up business costs, disrupt operations, and limit access to technologies such as cloud computing and AI,” they warned.
The groups pointed out that existing safeguards under the Data Privacy Act and alignment with international best practices, such as the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules, make data localization unnecessary. “Data security is not about where data is stored, it is about how it is protected,” they stressed, cautioning that localization mandates could increase cybersecurity risks by hindering coordinated threat detection and response.
The tech organizations expressed their readiness to partner with the government to realize the law’s vision. “The Konektadong Pinoy Act has the potential to be a foundation for digital transformation. We look forward to its passage and to working with government to realize a more connected Philippines.”
Both houses of Congress ratified the Konektadong Pinoy bill on June 9, and it is now awaiting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signature to become law.
