THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) supports the passage of Konektadong Pinoy Bill, saying the measure fosters competition, which is key to better telecom services.
In a statement on Tuesday, PCC Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo said incorporating competition principles into the country’s digital connectivity framework is essential to improving telecommunications services.
Aguinaldo said the provisions of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, such as streamlining the approval process for telecommunications providers, promoting open access, and reducing market entry barriers, are aligned with the PCC’s mandate to foster fair and open markets.
The bill was recently ratified by Congress.
“By institutionalizing competition in the digital infrastructure sector, the bill can help lower costs, improve service quality, and expand access, especially in underserved areas,” Aguinaldo said.
He added that the bill also reinforces the state’s commitment to data inclusivity and consumer welfare by encouraging a more dynamic and responsive telecommunications market.
Last week, 35 business and civic organizations appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately enact the proposed Konektadong Pinoy (Open Access in Data Transmission) Act, saying the landmark legislation will democratize internet access and could potentially be the administration’s greatest legacy.
The groups, in a joint statement on June 25, said Konektadong Pinoy aims to “accelerate the deployment of digital infrastructure by streamlining the licensing process, promoting infrastructure sharing, and allowing new and smaller players to deliver both wired and wireless connectivity without requiring a legislative franchise, an antiquated requirement not found anywhere else in the world.”
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) in a statement on June 12, however, called for last-minute revisions to the bill before it is signed by the president into law, flagging concerns over regulatory gaps and unfair market conditions.
“We support the goal of expanding connectivity to all Filipinos,” PCTO President and Globe Telecom General Counsel Froilan Castelo said in the statement. “However, the bill lowers the bar for accountability and opens the country to risks tied to unregulated infrastructure and potential foreign control.”
PCTO said it objects to the removal of requirements for new data transmission entities to obtain a legislative franchise or a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) — long-standing prerequisites for assessing a telco’s legal, financial, technical and cybersecurity readiness.
“Existing players remain subject to full regulation, while new entrants operate with fewer checks. That’s a national security concern and a fairness issue,” Castelo said.
