“But as with many new policies, the devil is in the details”
When it comes to digital connectivity, the Philippines has long been playing catch-up.
Making high-speed internet more accessible to millions of Filipinos, especially in remote areas, is not just appealing—it’s necessary.
That’s precisely what the newly passed Konektadong Pinoy Bill (Senate Bill 2699) promises. Certified as urgent by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the bill aims to modernize the country’s data transmission infrastructure and open the field for new providers. But as with many new policies, the devil is in the details.
Experts, consumer rights groups, and security analysts are raising alarms, arguing that in our rush to be more connected, we may be opening the floodgates to foreign espionage, cyberattacks, and digital threats.
The bill’s loosening of regulatory oversight—particularly in how radio frequencies are allocated—could compromise national security and expose our ecosystems to cyberattacks.
Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, President of the Stratbase Institute, warned that removing the requirement for a legislative franchise to access the country’s radio frequencies weakens safeguards.
“We want to be connected, but not at the cost of our security,” he cautioned.
This move, he rightly contends, undermines oversight and could allow unvetted players to control crucial communication networks.
For decades, Philippine telecommunications operators underwent rigorous vetting before gaining access to the country’s limited radio spectrum.
The Konektadong Pinoy Bill, however, reduces the National Telecommunications Commission to a mere registration and certification body, stripping it of its regulators functions.
This shift, as I stated in a published statement as CitizenWatch Philippines lead convenor, would make it “easier for unscrupulous entities to take advantage of consumers, particularly in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) where digital literacy is low.”
Aside from national security, consumer protection advocates warn of increased online fraud and scams.
Patrick Climaco, Secretary General of Konsyumer at Mamamayan, stated if new telecom players enter without stringent vetting, “bad actors could exploit the system, leading to an increase in online scams, phishing schemes, and fraudulent telecommunications services.”
With digital banking and e-commerce on the rise, cybercriminal infiltration poses a serious risk.
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators took a strong stance opposing key provisions of the bill, calling it potentially unconstitutional. Their concern? The elimination of the congressional franchise requirement, which they argue serves as a crucial oversight layer for 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 group warned.
They also highlighted how certain provisions extend beyond data transmission and into broadcast frequencies—potentially inviting legal challenges.
The bill also mandates an Access List, requiring existing telecom operators to open their infrastructure—including poles, ducts, and cable entrances—to new market entrants.
While this aims to boost network expansion, critics argue it blatantly infringes on private property rights.
Companies that have invested billions in digital infrastructure would be forced to share their assets with newcomers who haven’t shouldered the same financial burden. Worse, failure to comply comes with penalties.
The Dig Once policy introduces another vulnerability.
While the idea of consolidating underground infrastructure to avoid repeated road-digging projects seems practical, security experts caution that placing the country’s digital backbone in a single underground system creates a single point of failure.
A targeted attack, sabotage, or even a natural disaster could wipe out connectivity in one blow, crippling emergency response systems, banking networks, and national defense communications.
It’s clear the Konektadong Pinoy Bill has right intentions. No one disputes the need for better digital infrastructure and greater connectivity.
But as the Stratbase Institute put it, “Digital inclusivity must not come at the expense of market fairness, appropriate oversight, and national security.”
If the government truly wants to modernize the country’s digital infrastructure, it must do so without opening the door to unchecked foreign influence, scam syndicates, and regulatory loopholes that could be exploited by bad actors.
The government must ensure that modernization does not come at the cost of unchecked foreign influence, scam syndicates, and regulatory loopholes that could threaten security, competition, and consumer protection.
These are red flags that could lead to greater consequences than anticipated, and merits a pause to comprehensively review and rectify these flaws.