A THINK tank said a bill seeking to boost digital connectivity in the country raised has alarms among geopolitical experts and consumer groups who warned that flaws in the measure “could invite foreign espionage, cyberattacks, and widespread scam syndicates.”
Stratbase Institute was referring to Senate Bill 2699, or the Konektadong Pinoy Act certified by President Marcos, aiming to modernize data transmission infrastructure in the Philippines.
Experts warned however, that by weakening regulatory oversight, the proposed law could expose the country’s telecommunications networks to serious security threats.
In a statement, Stratbase president Victor Andres Manhit cautioned that the bill’s deregulation of the country’s radio frequency spectrum would leave the digital infrastructure vulnerable to exploitation by malicious foreign actors.
“We want to be connected, but not at the cost of our security,” Manhit stressed. “Removing the requirement for a legislative franchise to access the country’s radio frequencies weakens safeguards and opens the door to foreign entities with potentially harmful intentions,” he added.
Manhit said the country’s digital networks must be protected by robust policy and technology that would protect the government and private institutions from malevolent foreign infiltration.
“By easing entry requirements for new telecommunications players, the legislation could allow unreliable or even hostile entities to disrupt critical infrastructure,” the statement read.
Manhit pointed out that the bill does not align with the safeguards spelled out in the Public Services Act, which ensures that vital infrastructure remains under strict regulatory oversight.
“We need to strengthen the security of our digital backbone, not expose it to unchecked foreign influence,” he said.
Patrick Climaco, secretary general of the Konsyumer at Mamamayan, also warned that the Konektadong Pinoy measure could pave the way for a surge in digital fraud and scams.
"If new players are allowed to enter the industry without stringent vetting, bad actors could exploit the system, leading to an increase in online scams, phishing schemes, and fraudulent telecommunications services," Climaco said,
CitizenWatch Philippines lead convenor Orlando Oxales also expressed concerns that without strong regulatory enforcement, the National Telecommunications Commission would have limited power to oversee new market players, making it easier for unscrupulous entities to take advantage of consumers, particularly in remote areas where digital literacy is low and internet users are more vulnerable.
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), in a separate statement, raised strong opposition to the bill, calling it not only unnecessary but potentially unconstitutional. The group argues that eliminating the congressional franchise requirement for new players undermines existing protections meant to safeguard the country’s limited radio spectrum.
“The Konektadong Pinoy Bill disregards constitutional provisions, undermines fair competition, and could even stifle investment in the telecommunications sector,” the PCTO said in a statement. The organization also criticized the bill for expanding spectrum allocation policies beyond data transmission into broadcast frequencies, a move that they argue could invite legal challenges, the PCTO said.
“The government must ensure that any entity granted access to the nation’s digital backbone is thoroughly vetted,” Manhit emphasized. “Weak oversight means greater risks of cyberattacks targeting government institutions, private businesses, and ordinary Filipinos.”