An independent policy research organization expressed reservations on the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Bill, saying “telecommunication networks could be exploited by hostile entities that pose significant risks to national security.”
Senate Bill No. 2699 or the Open Access Bill authored by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, seeks to lift legislative franchise requirement for new telecom industry players.
The proposed bill also encourages the sharing of infrastructure among telecom companies and overseeing the allocation and use of the country’s radio spectrum.
Stratbase ADR Institute said telecommunications and cybersecurity experts are alarmed by the bill “because it could open the door for foreign actors to launch cyberattacks against the digital infrastructure of PH.”
“If passed into law, SB 2699 will not only bypass the congressional franchise requirement for the use of the country’s radio frequency spectrum but will also weaken the regulatory oversight function of the National Telecommunications Commission,”said the research policy center.
It expressed alarm over a scenario that the country’s telecommunication networks could be exploited by hostile entities that pose significant risks to national security if the regulatory oversight function of the NTC is weakened, said Stratbase Institute president Dindo Manhit.
Manhit said the government should align with the Public Services Act, which restricts foreign ownership in sensitive areas, particularly national security, and concentrate more on protecting critical connectivity infrastructure.
“If the bill becomes a law and the NTC’s functions are in fact diluted, it would be a free-for-all scenario wherein players could take advantage of the critical infrastructure and their access to customers’ information to pursue their own adventure. The resulting scenario could be chaotic, especially at a time when malign elements seek to create chaos in the physical and virtual worlds,” Manhit said.
The institute also said that, while the Senate’s plan to increase digital inclusivity is essential for nation-building, it should not be at the cost of making the country vulnerable to various players seeking to enter the Philippine market.
