The Institute for Risk and Strategic Studies said it supports the goal of universal internet access but warned that the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Bill could have unintended consequences, including undermining infrastructure and removing public accountability.
Joey Sarte Salceda, research chair at the institute, said the bill’s own advocates have confirmed it would open the market to “capital light” operators.
Salceda warned that without binding obligations for repair, maintenance and co-investment, these new operators could focus on profitable areas, leaving the long-term upkeep of the national network to existing companies or taxpayers.
He also cautioned that if the bill removes the franchise requirement for data-only providers but keeps it for landline operators, it could lead to the elimination of landline services.
“If you remove the franchise requirement for data-only providers but keep it for landline operators, the market will simply abandon landline service altogether,” Salceda said. “That will mean the end of the country’s most disaster-resilient fallback network.”
He added that landlines are the last independent line of communication in the event a storm disables cell towers and satellite stations.
Salceda also criticized the view that public listing is a privilege for investors, stating that it is a tool for disclosure, governance and transparency. He said these safeguards are essential for national data infrastructure.
“Listing forces operators to show, in public and on the record, whether they are investing enough in repairs, replacements and rural expansion,” Salceda said. “Without it, we are flying blind.”
He said that franchising, co-investment obligations and public listing each serve as separate layers of accountability. Removing franchising and rejecting listing, he argued, would strip away two of those layers at once.
Salceda warned that if the bill passes in its current form, Congress would lose its power to grant franchises for a major public utility sector, which would mean an end to public hearings, formal oversight and enforceable coverage conditions.
“Once these safeguards are gone, they will not be easily restored,” he said.
The Salceda Research team said it is willing to work with lawmakers and other stakeholders to strengthen the bill before it becomes law.
It recommended including enforceable coverage obligations, co-investment requirements, repair responsibilities, public listing for transparency and clear enforcement standards.
“We are not against Konektadong Pinoy. We are against passing it in a form that removes accountability without replacing it with equally strong safeguards,” Salceda said.
“If we are going to replace the current franchising system, the new one must be airtight," he added.