The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider signing the Konektadong Pinoy Act into law, citing “unresolved risks” in the bill awaiting his signature.

The PCTO, which represents the country’s leading telecommunication companies, said that while it supports the bill's goal of expanding internet access, the version ratified by Congress could jeopardize national security, weaken regulatory oversight and destabilize the telecommunications sector.

"We support providing broader connectivity to all Filipinos," said Atty. Froilan Castelo, PCTO president and general counsel for Globe Telecom. "However, the bill lowers the bar for accountability and opens the country to risks tied to unregulated infrastructure and potential foreign control."

The PCTO highlighted several critical issues. First, the bill relaxes requirements for new players by removing the need for new data transmission companies to secure a legislative franchise or a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN).

These have historically been used to assess legal, financial, technical and cybersecurity readiness.

"This creates a two-tier system," Castelo said. "Existing players remain subject to full regulation, while new entrants operate with fewer checks. That’s a national security concern and a fairness issue."

Second, the law exempts satellite direct access services from registration or authorization by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) or the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which contradicts the bill's stated principle of technology neutrality.

"You cannot claim to be technology-neutral and at the same time give one technology a free pass," Castelo warned. "The provision requiring satellite services to apply for NTC spectrum use was removed in the final version. That opens a dangerous backdoor."

Third, the bill allows new players a two-year grace period to comply with national and international security standards. The PCTO argues this delay is unacceptable given the rising threat of cyberattacks.

Finally, the law does not require new entrants to serve geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), potentially leading them to focus only on profitable urban centers and leaving rural communities underserved.

The PCTO also cautioned against rushing legislation without thorough stakeholder review, pointing to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) law as an example of policy that led to unintended problems.

"We’ve seen what happens when laws are rushed and under-vetted," Castelo said. "We cannot afford another case where gaps in the law create bigger problems down the road."

The group is also urging the administration to carefully review the measure before it is signed into law and to ensure that its implementing rules and regulations include clear, enforceable safeguards that promote digital inclusion, ensure national security and maintain a fair and future-ready industry.