If Marcos Jr. signs Senate Bill No. 2699, the Konektadong Pinoy Act, into law, the Philippines might actually stumble into the modern era of connectivity. Notice I said if. Because this is the Philippines, and we can turn even the most straightforward reform into a circus act.
On paper, it looks promising. The bill removes the congressional franchise requirement for data transmission. It forces spectrum hoarders to give back what they are not using. It requires infrastructure sharing, allows direct satellite access, and mandates cybersecurity certification. For once, it seems the country might stop treating the internet as a luxury and start treating it as a necessity.
But that is theory. Practice is another matter. This is still Manila, not Singapore.
The Bright Spots (If They’re Not Diluted Later)
- Open Access Framework: No more legislative franchises given as political favors. This could finally loosen the grip of the duopoly, if it is enforced.
- Spectrum Management: Frequencies can be recalled if they are unused. That ends spectrum hoarding that is no different from hacienderos keeping land idle.
- Infrastructure Sharing: Providers must let others use their towers and cables. That can cut duplication and finally bring service to rural areas.
- Direct Satellite Access: Starlink and others can serve the country without tripping over bureaucracy. This could mean internet in mountains, fishing villages, and barangays that have been ignored for decades.
- Cybersecurity Compliance: Players must get certified and face DICT audits. At least the law tries to raise the security baseline.
The Risks (Because We’ve Seen This Movie Before)
Execution is the problem. The Philippines has a long history of writing good laws and then abandoning them in favor of cronies.
- Enforcement: Will spectrum hogs really be forced to surrender what they are not using, or will it be quietly deferred?
- Vendor Vetting: Foreign competition may bring lower prices, but who ensures national security is not compromised?
- Cybersecurity Compliance: Certificates look nice in frames, but without strict DICT audits this will be another box-ticking exercise.
- Legal Delays: TROs, appeals, and endless reviews will slow everything down. Courts here move slower than dial-up.
History Repeats, Badly
EPIRA was supposed to bring competition and lower electricity costs. Instead, we got deregulation without accountability. Oligarchs kept control and the public kept paying high bills. SB 2699 could end up the same way, an excellent framework captured by the very interests it was meant to weaken.
Congress has also lost one of its favorite sources of leverage. No more franchises to hand out means no more favors to sell. Do not expect them to let go quietly. Oversight will be the excuse. Sabotage will be the reality.
What to Watch (If Marcos Jr. Signs)
The Implementing Rules and Regulations will decide the fate of this law. That is where lobbyists will work overtime to water it down. Bold reforms can easily become polite suggestions.
DICT and the National Security Council will also have to screen foreign vendors. The question is whether they will act like serious guardians of national security or simply rubber stamp whoever comes with the lowest price tag.
The Bottom Line
If Marcos Jr. signs SB 2699, it “could” change the game. It could lower costs, expand coverage, and raise cybersecurity standards. But this is still the Philippines, where good laws go to die in committee meetings, executive delays, and regulatory capture.
So yes, let’s celebrate the promise of the Konektadong Pinoy Act. But let’s also remember our track record: we write great laws, and then we screw them up. The only question now is whether we’re finally ready to prove ourselves wrong.
Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal views and not those of my organization.