The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) flagged what it called “unresolved risks” in the Konektadong Pinoy Act, a bill ratified by both houses of Congress and awaiting the President’s signature.
PCTO said while it supports the bill’s aim of expanding internet access across the Philippines, it warned that the version passed by the bicameral committee could lead to national security vulnerabilities, weaken regulatory oversight and destabilize the telecommunications sector in the long run.
“We support providing broader connectivity to all Filipinos,” said PCTO president and Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo.
“However, the bill lowers the bar for accountability and opens the country to risks tied to unregulated infrastructure and potential foreign control,” said Castelo.
Under the measure, new data transmission players are no longer required to secure a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). The move removes key filters historically used to evaluate legal, financial, technical and cybersecurity readiness.
“This creates a two-tier system. Existing players remain subject to full regulation, while new entrants operate with fewer checks. That’s a national security concern and a fairness issue,” said Castelo.
The PCTO also raised concern about the law’s exemption for satellite direct access services from any form of registration or authorization from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) or the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). This contrasts with the law’s own principle of technology neutrality under Section 19.
“You cannot claim to be technology-neutral and at the same time give one technology a free pass. The provision requiring satellite services to apply for NTC spectrum use was removed in the final version. That opens a dangerous backdoor,” said Castelo.
The group also said the law allows new players a two-year window to comply with national and international security standards. The PCTO believes this delay is unacceptable given today’s escalating cyber threats.
Another gap in the law, according to the PCTO, is the absence of any requirement for new players to serve geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). This could incentivize new entrants to focus only on high-density urban areas, potentially leaving rural communities behind, it said.
The PCTO also pointed to the risks of rushing legislation without deeper stakeholder review, citing the POGO law as a cautionary example of well-intended but poorly executed policy.
“We’ve seen what happens when laws are rushed and under-vetted. We cannot afford another case where gaps in the law create bigger problems down the road,” said Castelo.
The PCTO urged the administration to closely review the measure before signing it and to ensure that its implementing rules establish clear, enforceable guardrails that promote real digital inclusion, ensure national security and preserve a fair and future-ready industry.
