Bill eyes to make new government buildings fiber-optic ready

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

Philstar.com

December 2, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A measure has been filed in Congress seeking to overhaul the country’s construction standards, in an effort to guarantee better internet access for the public by requiring all new government buildings to be fiber-optic ready.

Under the proposed New Philippine Building Act (House Bill 5942), construction rules should be aligned with the critical demands of the digital age.

If passed, the measure — which is being eyed to replace the nation's decades-old building code — mandates that all new public structures must include built-in infrastructure capable of supporting high-speed data connectivity.

The Act specifically mandates the installation of in-building telecommunications systems, including fiber-optic cabling, in all new public structures.

The measure’s author, Rep. Jan Rurik Padiernos (Galing sa Puso Partylist), said that upgrading the physical environment is key to bridging the digital divide and ensuring continuous service.

“We are building the physical infrastructure for reliable information access,” Padiernos said in a statement. “Requiring in-building telecommunications systems means that vital public structures such as schools, hospitals, and disaster-response centers will be fiber-optic ready from the start. This ensures that these institutions can maintain reliable, high-speed internet access, which is crucial for serving the public efficiently and effectively.”

To complement the digital mandate, the measure also raises sustainability requirements for all new structures. This aims to promote energy and water efficiency, encourages the use of green technologies, and requires environmentally friendly building materials, ensuring that construction is both modern and responsible.

The bill also streamlines compliance by introducing a three-tier classification system for buildings (Simple, Regular, and Special) and allows the use of certified innovative construction technologies as alternatives to traditional peer review.

“The enactment of this law will guarantee that all new public buildings nationwide are safe, technologically capable, and sustainable for generations to come,” said Padiernos.