Pangilinan flags 'unfair' Konektadong Pinoy bill

Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of PLDT Inc., warned that certain provisions of the Konektadong Pinoy bill could be exploited to foster an unfair playing field in the local telecommunications sector.

- BY DEXTER BARRO II

Pangilinan issued the statement during PLDT's 2025 annual stockholders' meeting, which was preceded by the recent ratification of the measure in Congress, one step closer to its enactment.

Certified as urgent by the Marcos Jr.. administration, the bill aims to enhance competition in the telco industry, improve the quality of internet services, and promote digital connectivity nationwide.

At its core, it aims to significantly expand the country's digital landscape by streamlining licensing processes for network providers, thereby providing a more seamless entry for foreign telecom operators.

Pangilinan said he agreed with this aim of the bill, however, he noted that it should be done in a manner that is fair for existing telco companies who have heavily invested in the country.