Senator Marcos calls for 'fair' NTC requirements for Konektadong Pinoy Act

Senator Imee Marcos urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) not to weaken the newly enacted Konektadong Pinoy Act by imposing requirements that small and community-based internet providers cannot comply with.

In a press release, she flagged provisions in a draft circular that give the NTC broad discretionary authority to disqualify applicants without clear standards.

Marcos urged the NTC to align its regulations with the law that aims to promote transparency and a regulatory framework that is fair, efficient, and pro-competition.

The senator warned that high capital and bond requirements, particularly for small and community-based providers, could stifle competition and tilt the field in favor of large telecommunications companies.

As the principal author of the Konektadong Pinoy Act, Marcos said the draft regulations contradict the statute’s core goal of expanding reliable and affordable internet connectivity across the country.

Rather than lowering barriers to entry and promoting competition, she said the proposed rules appear to reinstate restrictive practices that the law was designed to eliminate.

Marcos further criticized the rule banning online submissions and requiring paper filings, saying it runs counter to the government’s digitalization push and existing Supreme Court directives.

“The law is clear,” she said. “Connectivity should expand, competition should flourish, and regulation should serve the public,” she added.

The Konektadong Pinoy Act is a Philippine law designed to increase access to reliable and affordable internet and telecommunications services across the country by making it easier for new and smaller providers to enter the market.

The law promotes competition, simplifies regulatory procedures, ensures transparent allocation of spectrum, and supports digital inclusion, particularly in underserved and remote areas, with the goal of improving connectivity and service quality for all Filipinos.

The Konektadong Pinoy Act (Republic Act No. 12234) lapsed into law on August 24, 2025 after both chambers of Congress approved the measure and the President did not act on it within the constitutional period, and it took effect on September 14, 2025.

-Paraluman News