Telco advocates warn vs Konektadong Pinoy Bill

The Philippine Association of Private Telecommunications Companies (PAPTELCO) has voiced strong opposition to the Konektadong Pinoy bill, arguing it will displace smaller telecommunications firms and is "anti-Filipino."

"The majority of the telecommunications companies in the Philippines are not big players," said Atty. Normandy Baldovino Jr., PAPTELCO president. "There are small ones like us that will be the first to be affected by this if it passes into law."

Baldovino stressed the role of smaller providers in the ICT ecosystem, saying they provide connectivity in areas underserved by larger telecommunication companies.

"Just allowing foreign telcos to enter the Philippines is anti-Filipino," said Baldovino.

PAPTELCO expressed concern that lawmakers did not consider the potential negative impacts of allowing any foreign telecommunication company to operate in the Philippines.  The group raised alarm over the Senate's recent passage of the bill on third and final reading, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s certification of the bill as urgent.

Senate Bill 2699 aims to improve access to fast and affordable internet nationwide and seeks to achieve this by removing the need for legislative franchises, promoting infrastructure sharing among telecommunication companies, and overseeing the allocation and use of radio spectrums.

PAPTELCO is an organization of independent telecommunications companies providing connectivity in remote provinces.

Earlier, the research firm Stratbase warned that the “bill in its current form may expose us to more pitfalls and risks.”

While acknowledging the bill's aim to attract telecommunications investment by streamlining processes, Stratbase stressed the importance of maintaining regulatory oversight by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).