Philippines AI & BPO Policy Tracker: Key Laws 2026

Republic Act No. 12234, the Konektadong Pinoy Act, lapsed into law on 24 August 2025 after the President took no action on the enrolled bill. Implementing rules followed on 5 November 2025. The core change is structural: data transmission providers no longer need a congressional franchise to operate. Registration with the National Telecommunications Commission is now sufficient to enter the market.

For BPO operators, especially those running provincial delivery sites, this matters for two reasons: redundancy and price. Sites that have long relied on a single provider now face a market where new entrants face a lower barrier to entry. The implementing rules also mandate infrastructure sharing on fair and non-discriminatory terms, with administrative fines ranging from PHP 50,000 to PHP 5,000,000 per violation. The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators opposed the law, so early implementation may see friction. The first wave of NTC registrations will be the real indicator of how quickly competition develops.