LEADERS and members of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, have sought a congressional investigation into what they described as “expensive, slow and inaccessible” internet services in the country.
Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP) and President of the Lakas-CMD, said despite technological advances, the country is lagging behind its neighbors in terms of cost-efficient, fast and accessible internet services.
“The necessary laws are in place, the newest of which is Konektadong Pinoy Act. But something is not right. We need internet in many aspects of our life. Yet, half of Filipinos do not have internet access,” Romualdez said, adding that the proposal is part of the party’s GINHAWA KIT (Kuryente–Internet–Trabaho) plan, which aims to help people by lowering electricity costs, improving internet access, and creating
The proposal is contained in House Resolution (HR) No. 823 personally filed by Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” Suarez, Lakas-CMD treasure, of Quezon and Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun of Zambales.
Romualdez said the resolution suggests that the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology should look into how reliable, good, and affordable internet and data services are in the country, and what options consumers have if they face issues, with the goal of improving service quality, openness, competition, and making sure everyone can access digital services.
“The access to reliable, affordable, and high-quality internet and data transmission services has become essential to productivity-led growth and the delivery of critical public and private services, including education, healthcare, financial inclusion, disaster resilience, and commerce,” Romualdez said.
However, Suarez said Congress’ own policy research has shown that only 48.8 percent, or less than half of Filipino households, had access to internet at home in 2024, which meant that more than half remained “unconnected and/or underserved.”
“The same research also found that affordability was a binding barrier, with a majority of offline households citing high subscription cost as a principal reason for not having internet access at home,” Suarez said.
In terms of broadband speed and cost, Khonghun cited data from the Department of Information and Technology, which showed that as of March last year, the Philippines ranked 53rd our of 154 countries in speed, and from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, which reported that among the ASEAN-5, the Philippines had the costliest monthly internet at 44.93 US dollars and placed 32nd globally in terms of cost.
“The country’s internet connectivity continues to lag behind its regional peers in terms of affordability, speed and access,” Khonghun lamented.
The Lakas-CMD pointed out that research from the Asian Development Bank showed that better internet connectivity leads to better living conditions for families, highlighting how important it is to have reliable and accessible internet.
The authors said Republic Act (RA) No. 12234, or the Konektadong Pinoy Act, was enacted to modernize and strengthen the policy environment for data transmission and connectivity, lower barriers to entry and investment, promote competition, and support more inclusive and affordable connectivity outcomes; while its implementing rules and regulations provide the operational framework for implementation and recognize the regulatory roles relating to performance standards, monitoring, and enforcement that require strong and transparent execution to translate reforms into better consumer outcomes.
They said students from low-income households are disproportionately affected by inadequate connectivity, resulting in barriers to learning, digital exclusion and unequal educational outcomes.
They likewise cited rampant consumer complaints such as inconsistent service quality, unmet advertised speeds, limited competition, and weak enforcement of existing service standards.
“There is therefore a need to examine whether current regulatory frameworks, competition policies, and consumer protection mechanisms are sufficient to address these challenges, or whether legislative reforms are necessary,” the Lakas-CMD said.
They proposed that the inquiry cover, among other issues and concerns, pricing and affordability, socialized pricing for students and low-income households, service quality and reliability, regulatory oversight and enforcement, and how to reduce digital exclusion and improve reliability for communities that depend on connectivity for learning, livelihoods and essential transactions.
