Lifestyle show “Metro Home” takes viewers out of the country for the first time into the heart of the Philippine Pavilion, a rattan-clad pavilion that brings an immersive journey to woven artworks and AI-powered fiesta, in its upcoming special episode, premiering on Metro Channel this July 19 (Saturday), 8:30pm.“Metro Home” host Anton Barretto meets the pavilion creator Carlos Calma, a Filipino visual artist and architect who aims to champion Filipino culture and craftsmanship. The pavilion titled “Woven,” featured in the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, showcases more than 200 handwoven textiles made by local artisans.Carlos shared that it took eight months to handcraft each textile made of sustainable raw materials. It represents the 18 regions of the country, reflecting the rich history and tradition of the Philippines.

Moreover, an interactive AI-fiesta can be found in the pavilion along with a photobooth, gift shop, cafe, and massage place.One of Metro Channel’s locally produced lifestyle programs, “Metro Home” features beautiful abodes and unique structures to inspire design concepts and ideas to viewers. In its last episode, Jessica Kienle Maxwell joined Anton in their flavorful adventure at the Spanish roasting house Asador Alfonso.Witness the beauty of the Philippine Pavilion in “Metro Home” airing on Metro Channel this July 19 (Saturday), 8:30pm. “Metro Home” is a lifestyle show that gives a glimpse of tasteful design ideas through the showcase of different establishments and spaces. Metro Channel is available on Sky Cable channel 52 (SD) and channel 174 (HD), Cignal channel 69, and GSAT channel 70. For more details, follow Metro Channel PH on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

Various organizations have urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sign the proposed Konektadong Pinoy or the Open Access in Data Transmission Act, insisting that the landmark legislation will democratize internet access in the country.

In a joint statement, the 35 groups commended Marcos, Jr. for certifying the proposed measure as urgent, saying its enactment into law will be his greatest legacy for the Filipino people and stakeholders “who have long been suffering from inaccessible, unreliable, and costly internet services.”

“Konektadong Pinoy was created to free Filipinos from the shackles of poor internet. The Philippines has been lagging behind on internet connectivity not only in Asia but in the whole world,” they said.

Citing the latest data, the groups revealed that 19,000 barangays, or 45.5% of all barangays nationwide, still lack internet access, limiting opportunities for Filipinos and making them unequipped for future work, especially digital jobs. 

“The growing digital divide makes e-commerce, e-government, online learning, and AI virtually inaccessible to millions of Filipinos and disadvantaged sectors,” they emphasized.

The groups added that Konektadong Pinoy will bring down internet costs in the country and enable smaller providers to build infrastructure and offer internet services in their communities.

Once enacted into law, Konektadong Pinoy will also boost competition and stimulate the market, and encourage investment even in the rural areas of the country.

“Konektadong Pinoy aims to accelerate the deployment of digital infrastructure by streamlining the licensing process, promoting infrastructure sharing, and allowing new and smaller players to deliver both wired and wireless connectivity without requiring a legislative franchise, an antiquated requirement not found anywhere else in the world,” they added.

They also downplayed security and other concerns by some sectors, saying the measure has undergone rigorous scrutiny, almost 10 years of deliberations, and various improvements through three Congresses. 

“The strong backing from key stakeholders, including established and reputable organizations from major sectors—including government, business, ICT industry, consumers, and civil society groups–is proof that the bill is truly responsive to the urgent digital needs of the country,” they insisted.

The Konektadong Pinoy bill also enjoys wide support from key national government agencies, including the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev); the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC); the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP); and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Local government leaders also have recognized the importance of Konektadong Pinoy in narrowing the digital divide, bridging the technological gap, bolstering financial inclusion, enhancing literacy, and promoting economic growth.

“We, the 35 signatories to this statement of support, stand ready to contribute to the successful implementation of this historic piece of legislation,” they promised.

The 35 signatories to the joint statement are:

Business and Industry Groups – Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines (AAP), Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Fintech Alliance.PH, Internet and Technology Association of the Philippines, Inc. (ITAP), Maharlika Internet Exchange (MaharlikaIX), National Confederation of the Philippines (NATCCO), and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT).

Joint Foreign Chambers – American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AMCHAM), Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (CANCHAM), European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc. (JCCIPI), and Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (KCCP). > Fitzgerald Cecilio: Public Service Organizations – Chief Information Officers Forum, Inc. (CIOF), CIO Forum Foundation, Inc. (CIOFF), National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), Philippine Councilors League (PCL), and Provincial Health Officers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHOAP).

Tech Organizations – Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA), Cebu Python Users Group (PizzaPy), League of Goal Oriented Information and Communications Technology Officers, Inc. (LOGICT), MozillaPH, Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals (PICSPRO), Unconnected.org, University of the Philippines Computer Science Guild, User Experience Philippines (UXPH), and Wiki Society of the Philippines (WikiSocPH).

Civil Society and Consumer Groups – Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Better Internet PH (BIP), Democracy.net.PH, Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), Internet Society (ISOC), Internet Society – Philippines Chapter (ISOC-PH), and Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid (SNPP)

The Senate and the House of Representatives have ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Konektadong Pinoy Act, and the measure is now awaiting the President’s approval.

Sen. Imee Marcos, principal author of Konektadong Pinoy, underscored the measure’s importance, saying it will end the outdated Congressional franchise requirement for data transmission providers.

The lawmaker said the move seeks to break the decades-long duopoly and open the door to more affordable, faster, and reliable internet—especially for far-flung and underserved communities.

“This is the moment for us to side with the masses and not the monopolies,” Senator Marcos urged.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco echoed the sentiment, saying the bill would boost broadband access, level the playing field for businesses, and drive economic growth.

“Our country will not have economic development if we have slow internet. This law will not only make connectivity faster, but it will also help level the playing field for businesses across the country,” Tiangco said.

DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda welcomed the measure, saying it would help create a more inclusive and affordable digital ecosystem while accelerating the rollout of next-generation technologies like 5G.

He believes that President Marcos will sign it into law, noting that Konektadong Pinoy is among the priority legislation of the present administration as agreed upon during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC)  meeting.

Arsenio Balisacan, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary, described the measure as a “game changer” as it introduces comprehensive reforms designed to open the market, enhance competition, reduce network rollout costs, and increase the quality and availability of digital services. 

“The bill removes the requirement for a legislative franchise to build and operate data transmission infrastructure. Instead, a streamlined registration or authorization process with the National Telecommunications Commission will make it easier for new players to enter the market, especially in underserved areas,” he said.

The passage of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill into law is expected to generate new employment opportunities and significantly reduce internet prices in the country, according to an industry leader.

Joel Luis Dabao, former president of the Philippine Cable and Telecommunication Association (PCTA), said the Marcos administration’s target of cutting internet costs in the country by as much as 50 percent could become a reality through the measure.

“There are only a handful of players in that space. And if we have more, we can expect that cost to go down significantly,” Dabao said during a television interview.

Once enacted into law, Dabao expects the bill to spur digital investments in rural areas and help connect far-flung communities across the country.

By opening up the industry to more players, Dabao said more jobs will be created, particularly in far-flung areas where digital transformation can help drive economic growth and improve quality of life. 

“We need it for everything. We want all of our government services to be online. We want our health to go online. We want learning to go online. We want people to start using AI. For all of these things, you need the internet,” Dabao said.

The Senate and the House of Representatives have ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Konektadong Pinoy Act, and the measure is now awaiting the President’s approval.

Sen. Imee Marcos, principal author of Konektadong Pinoy, underscored the measure’s importance, saying it will end the outdated Congressional franchise requirement for data transmission providers.

The lawmaker said the move seeks to break the decades-long duopoly and open the door to more affordable, faster, and reliable internet, especially for far-flung and underserved communities.

“This is the moment for us to side with the masses and not the monopolies,” Senator Marcos urged.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco echoed the sentiment, saying the bill would boost broadband access, level the playing field for businesses, and drive economic growth.

“Our country will not have economic development if we have slow internet. This law will not only make connectivity faster, but it will also help level the playing field for businesses across the country,” Tiangco said.

DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda welcomed the measure, stating that it would help create a more inclusive and affordable digital ecosystem while accelerating the rollout of next-generation technologies, such as 5G.

He believes that President Marcos will sign it into law, noting that Konektadong Pinoy is among the priority legislation of the present administration, as agreed upon during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC)  meeting.

Arsenio Balisacan, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary, described the measure as a “game changer” as it introduces comprehensive reforms designed to open the market, enhance competition, reduce network rollout costs, and increase the quality and availability of digital services. 

“The bill removes the requirement for a legislative franchise to build and operate data transmission infrastructure. Instead, a streamlined registration or authorization process with the National Telecommunications Commission will make it easier for new players to enter the market, especially in underserved areas,” he said.

Dabao also allayed concerns that the measure might lead to an uneven playing field, saying the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) are empowered to establish standards that all players will be required to follow, including existing providers.

“So whatever they have to follow, the new players are going to have to follow as the law states very specifically,” he explained.

Having tracked the bill’s progress in the past eight years, Dabao expressed confidence that it contains sufficient guardrails that will protect the industry and allow regulators to quickly adapt to the sector’s evolving needs.

Dabao is optimistic that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign Konektadong Pinoy into law, despite concerns raised by some sectors. 

“I think he is going to sign it. I mean, he may listen to some feedback, but I do hope that the bill comes out to do what it’s intended to do,” he said.