The Philippine Association of Private Telecommunications Companies (PAPTELCO) said the Konektadong Pinoy bill (Senate Bill 2699) could weaken safeguards against foreign control of critical infrastructure.
“This is not just a concern of the large telecommunications players that own the cable landing stations and international gateway facilities, but also small telecommunication companies like us. The country’s national security is everyone’s concern,” said Atty. Normandy Baldovino Jr., president of PAPTELCO.
At an industry forum last April 7, telecom leaders pointed out that the bill removes key protections such as the requirement for a Congressional franchise for new players, strong regulatory oversight by the National Telecommunications Commission, and strict cybersecurity checks before operations.
Baldovino stressed that changes must be made to the bill itself, not just its implementing rules, saying, “We can’t sacrifice the country’s national security. While the Konektadong Pinoy bill has good intentions, it may have adverse effects down the road similar to when the government legalized Philippine Offshore Gaming Corporations (POGO). We have to correct the bill itself to ensure there is nothing lost when it comes to the implementing rules and regulations.”
Under the current draft, foreign-controlled firms could manage critical information infrastructure without full background checks, while new players would have up to three years after launch to fix cybersecurity gaps. The bill, already approved by the Senate in February 2025, will head to the bicameral conference committee when Congress resumes sessions in June.
