Cable TV operators from Luzon recently urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to veto Konektadong Pinoy Bill or Senate Bill No. 2699 due to alleged irregularities in the measure.
"I am appealing to our Congress and Senate and to the Office of the President, kung pwede i-veto itong Konektadong Pinoy Bill, hangga't hindi natin ma-address fully well lahat ng problema na hindi nila naipasok," Federation of International Cable TV Associations of the Philippines (FICTAP) National Chair Estrellita Juliano-Tamano said.
(I am appealing to our Congress and Senate and to the Office of the President to veto the Konektadong Pinoy Bill until all problems have been addressed)
"They allow cable TV operators unregulated like what we are having now. Maski sino puwede nang mag-operate,” Tamano said during the Kapihan Part 2 sa CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) on April 7.
She said they support the objective of the bill, also known as the Open Access Transmission Act which was approved on third and final reading by the Senate in February, to provide more accessible internet connection to Filipinos.
However, Tamano said that telco companies should still have liability to the Philippine government once it fails.
SB 2699 seeks to simplify the entry of service providers into the market, foster competition, and offer consumers more choices and affordable internet services.
The bill, which Marcos certified as urgent, is under review by the bicameral conference committee.
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) also raised alarm over SB 2699.
PCTO cited supposed national security risks embodied in the measure. Certain provisions in the bill are “detrimental” to both the country’s security and Filipino consumers, the PCTO said.