ON AUGUST 24, THE Konektadong Pinoy Act lapsed into law. On the surface, the measure seems like a long-awaited breakthrough: expanded digital access, more competition, and the promise of faster, cheaper internet. But scratch beneath the surface and the risks become clear—risks that could compromise cybersecurity, destabilize the industry, and weaken the very safeguards meant to protect Filipinos.
Globe Telecom, one of the country’s largest players, has expressed its concern. “We shall work with the government on how we can make better the standards in the industry to safeguard the public,” said Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo. The company’s position reflects a broader truth: it is not against the aspiration of greater connectivity; it is the absence of guardrails that is alarming.
Cybersecurity Gaps
Telecommunications networks are not just commercial utilities; they are strategic assets. Weaknesses in these systems expose the nation to both economic and security threats. Yet the Act allows new entrants a two-year grace period before complying with cybersecurity certification.
This is not benign flexibility—it is a loophole that opens a prolonged window of risk. Existing laws such as the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Data Privacy Act were designed for immediate protection, not delayed compliance. In today’s environment where cyberattacks are sophisticated and constant, a two-year exemption is simply untenable.
Spectrum Risks
The law also permits satellite operators to use spectrum without adequate regulation. On paper, this promotes wider access. In practice, it risks interfering with critical frequencies already assigned to defense and disaster-response agencies.
This is not a hypothetical hazard. In times of crisis—when typhoons batter provinces or when rescue operations are underway—communication channels are lifelines. Allowing unregulated use of frequencies threatens to undermine those lifelines at the very moment they are needed most. Worse, it risks putting the Philippines in breach of international treaty obligations, inviting legal and diplomatic consequences.
Market Instability
The Act’s removal of the Congressional franchise requirement is equally problematic. For decades, the franchise served as a mechanism of oversight, ensuring accountability and public interest in a sector critical to national development. Eliminating this safeguard opens the door to uneven competition.
Incumbents, who built networks under rigorous regulatory conditions, will now be forced to compete with new players exempt from the same burdens. The result is an uneven playing field. For investors, this uncertainty erodes confidence. Telecommunications is one of the most capital-intensive industries, requiring long-term commitments. If regulatory stability is sacrificed, capital will look elsewhere—and the cost will be borne by consumers in the form of slower upgrades and weaker service quality.
The Path Forward
The Konektadong Pinoy Act carries noble intentions. Connectivity is not optional in today’s economy; it is the backbone of education, commerce, governance, and daily life. But good intentions are not enough. Access must be expanded responsibly, without creating vulnerabilities that could harm consumers, destabilize markets, or expose the nation to risks.
What is needed now is corrective action. The law can still be refined into a framework that both widens access and preserves security. That means closing cybersecurity loopholes, clarifying spectrum management rules, and restoring oversight mechanisms that protect both the public and investor confidence.
Connectivity is a national imperative. But connection without safeguards is not progress—it is a gamble. The Philippines cannot afford an open-door policy that compromises security, stability, and trust.
In building our digital future, speed matters. But prudence matters more.