Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday welcomed the approval of the country’s first nationwide digital connectivity master plan, saying it gives clearer direction to reforms under the Konektadong Pinoy Act which he authored.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had approved the nationwide digital connectivity master plan on January 26, 2026, which lays out the government’s long-term strategy to expand reliable and secure internet access across the country, particularly in unserved and underserved areas.
This came five months after Cayetano’s Konektadong Pinoy Act lapsed into law in August 2025, which primarily aims to make it easier for service providers to enter the market, foster competition, and offer consumers more affordable and varied internet service options.
The senator had earlier said the Konektadong Pinoy Act was intended to modernize the country’s digital framework and expand access to internet services nationwide, noting that its full impact depends on the existence of a long-term connectivity plan.
“(This law) modernizes our digital infrastructure, ensuring that all Filipinos have access to, and the use of, affordable, quality, and up-to-date information and communication technologies,” he said.
“[Pero] kahit anong ganda ng plano mo for ICT (Information and Communications Technology), kung ‘di ka rin connected, wala ring mangyayari,” he added.
Cayetano said the country needs to develop modern technology to streamline government services, promote transparency, and improve service delivery.
“If all of these different laws work, we also hope to have free WiFi in the schools to help the students,” he added.
Cayetano said with the nationwide digital connectivity master plan now approved by the President, implementation would determine whether existing laws translate into improved internet access for public services and education.
Digital connectivity master plan mahalaga sa direksyon ng Konektadong Pinoy Act — Cayetano
Mahalagang hakbang ang pag-apruba sa nationwide digital connectivity master plan upang magkaroon ng malinaw na direksyon ang mga reporma sa internet access na itinatakda ng Konektadong Pinoy Act, ayon kay Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano na siyang principal author ng batas.
Nitong January 26, 2026, inaprubahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang master plan na naglalayong palawakin ang maaasahan at ligtas na internet connection sa buong bansa, lalo na sa mga lugar na matagal nang kulang o wala pang serbisyo.
Ito ay naipasa limang buwan matapos maging ganap na batas ang Konektadong Pinoy Act noong Agosto 2025. Layunin ng naturang batas na alisin ang mga hadlang sa pagpasok ng mga internet service provider, palakasin ang kompetisyon sa sektor, at magbigay sa publiko ng mas abot-kayang at mas maraming pagpipilian na internet services.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Cayetano na dinisenyo ang Konektadong Pinoy Act upang i-update ang digital framework ng bansa at palawakin ang access sa internet. Ngunit ayon sa senador, magiging limitado ang epekto ng batas kung walang malinaw at pangmatagalang plano sa koneksyon.
“(This law) modernizes our digital infrastructure, ensuring that all Filipinos have access to, and the use of, affordable, quality, and up-to-date information and communication technologies,” wika niya.
“[Pero] kahit anong ganda ng plano mo for ICT (Information and Communications Technology), kung ‘di ka rin connected, wala ring mangyayari,” dagdag niya.
Binigyang diin din ni Cayetano ang kahalagahan ng modernong teknolohiya sa pagpapabilis ng mga transaksyon sa gobyerno, pagpapalakas ng transparency, at pagpapabuti ng paghahatid ng serbisyo publiko.
“If all of these different laws work, we also hope to have free WiFi in the schools to help the students,” wika niya.
Ayon kay Cayetano, ngayong aprubado na ang nationwide digital connectivity master plan, ang maayos na pagpapatupad nito ang magiging susi upang matiyak na maisasalin ang mga umiiral na batas sa mas maayos na internet access para sa mga serbisyong pampubliko at sa sektor ng edukasyon.
