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.
Senate Measures in the 19th Congress stated on Senate Bill No. 183, filed on 7 July 2022 by Senator Imee Marcos. Entitled the Open Access in Internet Services Act, her version sought to promote competition and innovation in the telecommunications sector. Senator Grace Poe introduced Senate Bill No. 864 on 25 July 2022, with the same title. Poe's version emphasized consumer protection and the need for a more competitive environment in internet services. On 12 October 2022, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri filed Senate Bill No. 1383, likewise carrying the same title. His sponsorship underscored the recognition of the urgency of telecommunications reform. Senator Joel Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. 1611 on 14 December 2022, again under the same title. Villanueva's explanatory note highlighted the high cost and poor quality of Philippine internet services. On 6 February 2023, Senator Raffy Tulfo filed Senate Bill No. 1845, with the same title. Tulfo's version reinforced the growing consensus among senators that a comprehensive framework was needed to liberalize and expand internet services. On 14 February 2023, Senator Lito Lapid filed Senate Bill No. 1876, entitled the Open Access in Data Transmission Act. This broadened the scope of the reform effort by explicitly addressing data transmission infrastructure and the regulatory powers of the National Telecommunications Commission. Then 9 May 2023, Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed Senate Bill No. 2146, also titled the Open Access in Data Transmission Act. Estrada’s filing further demonstrated the bipartisan and multi‑sectoral support for reforming the country’s digital backbone. All of these measures, SBN 183, 864, 1383, 1611, 1845, 1876, and 2146, were referred to the Committee on Science and Technology joint with the Committee of Public Services. After extensive deliberations, they were consolidated into Committee Report No. 262, submitted on 29 July 2024. This committee report became the foundation of Senate Bill No. 2699.
On 27 January 2025, President Bongbong Marcos certified Senate Bill No. 2699 as urgent and was acted by the Senate plenary on 3 February 2025.
The bill passed the second reading on February 4, 2025. On the next day, with 17 affirmative votes, the bill passed on third and final reading.
Bicameral After the Senate approved Senate Bill No. 2699 on 5 February 2025, the measure was transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence. Because the Senate and House versions contained differences, a bicameral conference committee was convened to reconcile them.
On 4 June 2025, the bicameral conference committee formally opened its deliberations. The Senate panel was led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (chair of the Committee on Science and Technology), joined by Senator Grace Poe (chair of the Committee on Public Services), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senator Francis Escudero, and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. On the House side, the conferees were Representative John Reynald Tiangco (Navotas), Representative Joel Cabredo (Albay, 2nd District), Representative Jolo Revilla (Cavite, 1st District), Representative Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro, 2nd District), and Representative Richard Ongchuan (Northern Samar, 2nd District).
Reports from the Senate and House indicated that the most contentious issues — the scope of "open access," the regulatory powers of the National Telecommunications Commission, and provisions for equitable rollout in underserved areas — were harmonized. On 9 June 2025, the bicameral committee reached agreement on the reconciled text and formally approved its bicameral report.
On the same day, Both chambers approved bills for bicameral committee conference. And transmitted to the President on July 24, 2025.
Lapsed On August 24, 2025, the bill lapsed into law without the President taking action. After fifteen days it was published in the Official Gazette since August 29, 2025, the law effective on September 14, 2025.
Implementation The Department of Information and Communications Technology submitted Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on October 2, 2025. The DICT signed IRR on November 5, 2025, while it released IRR on December 1, 2025 effective for 15 days by December 17, 2025.
Reaction Support In a statement from Department of Information and Communications Technology through Secretary Gringo Honasan on March 20, 2021, the DICT expressed its support for the bill. He added that the DICT supports any policies aimed at spurring the growth of information and communications technology in the country.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry also expressed its support for the bill. They stated that if the bill is enacted to a law, it lowers barriers to market entry, fast-track and lower the cost of deploying broadband facilities, and make more spectrum available for Internet service.
Several foreign chambers of commerce, as well as the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Incorporated (SEIPI) also expressed support for the measure. They stated that developing competitive digital infrastructure would be essential for better lives for everyone in the Philippines and critical for local and foreign investments.
Several group expresses support bill such as National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team, the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association, Inc. (PCTA), the Game Developers Association of the Philippines, the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, Web3 Pangasinan, and the De La Salle University’s Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance.
Thirty-five ICT industry groups and fifty-three medical and healthcare associations expressed support for the bill.
The telecoms group expresses support law such as Converge ICT and Dito Telecommunity. PLDT and Globe Telecom additionally support for the drafting and implementation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) from the previous against the law.