The Konektadong Pinoy Act formerly known as Open Access in Data Transmission Act, officially designated as Republic Act No. 12234, is an internet and telecommunications law in the Philippines. The consolidated bill (House Bill No. 6 and Senate Bill No. 2699) was passed by the 19th Congress of the Philippines and lapsed into law without the President's signature on August 24, 2025. The law contains provisions encouraging the development of data transmission infrastructure and removing any barrier to competition in data transmission services. It also aims to protect and promote the internet as an open platform enabling consumer choice, freedom of expression, end-user control, competition and freedom to innovate without permission.
Background The Philippine telecommunications industry was liberalized in 1995 with the passage of the Republic Act No. 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act. Prior to the enactment of the law, the telecommunications industry was heavily dominated by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT). On March 29, 1994, Internet first became available and has since become commercially available for consumer, private business, government and institutional use. Business process outsourcing in the Philippines (BPO) started in 1997. Significant number of BPO companies depend on internet connectivity to perform its function. Revenues from this new industry has since contributed significant percentage to the Philippines' Gross Domestic Product. With the industry becoming competitive locally, many industry players offered remote work opportunities, taking advantage of the advancement of technology such as videotelephony, virtual private network, and remote desktop software. On December 20, 2018, Republic Act No. 11165 or the Telecommuting Act was enacted, setting a state policy on remote work and flexible work arrangements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses, organizations, government and academic institutions were forced to close and switch to remote work as a contingency plan. Much of the local home data and mobile telecommunications infrastructure went on high demand that resulted to slow data transmission. Despite the passage of Republic Act No. 11494 on September 14, 2020, or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, to facilitate a streamlined process of approving local and national government permits to build telecommunications infrastructure, the telecommunication sector remained uncompetitive as there was no legislation that prohibited public telecommunication entities (PTEs) from bandwidth throttling, state oversight on PTEs performance on data transmission, among others.
Legislative history
16th Congress Senate Bill No. 53, known as the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom, was filed on July 1, 2013 by then Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. It proposes a coherent national ICT policy framework, including universal access, net neutrality, and equitable infrastructure development. It aims to encourage open government data and e-governance initiatives to enhance transparency and citizen participation.
18th Congress
House House representative Victor Yap of Tarlac 2nd district filed House Bill No. 00057 on July 1, 2019. This was followed by Francis Gerald Abaya of Cavite 1st district on August 22, 2019, with House Bill No. 04109, Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur 2nd district on November 12, 2019, with House Bill No. 05341 and Joy Tambunting of Parañaque 2nd district on January 18, 2021, with House Bill No. 08383. House Bill No. 08910 was introduced as a substitute bill of the 4 prior bills by the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology on March 5, 2021, and approved by the same committee on March 9, 2021. After series of interpellations and amendments in the House plenary, the bill passed on second reading on March 16, 2021. On July 28, 2021, with 200 affirmative and no negative votes, the bill passed on third and final reading.
Senate On July 29, 2021, the bill was transmitted to the Senate for action. Senate Bill No. 45 was filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Grace Poe, while Senate Bill No. 911, was filed by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. Its Economic Planning Office only conducted a webinar on the said measure on July 7, 2021. The Senate Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Senator Nancy Binay failed to take action on the measure.
19th Congress
House House representatives Martin Romualdez of Leyte 1st district, Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog Party List filed House Bill No. 6 on June 30, 2022. This was followed by Christian Yap of Tarlac 2nd district on June 30, 2022, with House Bill No. 2382, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo of Camiguin lone district on July 26, 2022, with House Bill No. 2566 and Ralph Recto of Batangas 6th district on August 3, 2022, with House Bill No. 3591. House Bill No. 4164, House Bill No. 5085, House Bill No. 5464, and House Bill No. 5854 was introduced as a substitute bill of the 7 prior bills by the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology on November 28, 2022, and approved by the same committee on November 29, 2022. After series of interpellations and amendments in the House plenary, the bill passed on second reading on December 5, 2022. On December 12, 2022, with 243 affirmative, no negative and 3 abstain votes, the bill passed the third and final reading.
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