Telco operators urge review of open-access measure

THE Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) is seeking a thorough review of the Konektadong Pinoy bill, warning that some provisions could undermine regulatory oversight and pose risks to national security and fair competition.

- By Ashley Erika O. Jose Reporter

“We support providing broader connectivity to all Filipinos. However, the bill lowers the bar for accountability and opens the country to risks tied to unregulated infrastructure and potential foreign control,” PCTO President and Globe Telecom, Inc. General Counsel Froilan M. Castelo said in a media release on Thursday.

The bill is now up for President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s signature, after senators and congressmen separately ratified the priority measure through voice votes during their respective plenary sessions on Monday.

While the PCTO supports the measure’s objective of expanding internet access across the country, it warned that the version passed by the bicameral conference committee could create national vulnerabilities and weaken regulatory oversight.

“PCTO urges the administration to closely review the measure before signing and to ensure that its implementing rules establish clear, enforceable guardrails — ones that promote real digital inclusion, ensure national security, and preserve a fair and future-ready industry,” the group said.

Under the bicameral version of the bill, the State will adopt an open-access policy to create a more accessible and competitive environment for all qualified participants across the entire data transmission network, while encouraging investments in digital infrastructure to support reliable and affordable data services.