Manila: The soon-to-be published implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Konektadong Pinoy Act highlight the importance of timing in the implementation of enhanced policies and infrastructure sharing among agencies. This was emphasized by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda during the launch of the country’s first telecommunications firm-enabled fraud management application programming interfaces (API) called SmartSafe SilentAccess, the flagship anti-fraud solution of PLDT Enterprise.
According to Philippines News Agency, the IRR of the Konektadong Pinoy Act, or Republic Act (RA) 12234, which was signed into law on August 24 and took effect on September 14, will be published this week once all the signatories have signed the document. The IRR includes compressed deliverables for agencies, with a focus on speed and infrastructure sharing. Arbitration options have been incorporated to prevent immediate escalation to regulators in case of disputes among players.
Aguda mentioned that the government will assist data transmission industry participants by providing a map of the country’s fiber network. This initiative aims to inform investors about potential areas for additional facilities. The information will be posted on the DICT website around 15 days before the IRR becomes effective, ensuring transparency within the sector. Aguda noted that seven major foreign players have shown interest in conducting business in the country, with one potential investment ranging from USD1 billion to USD1.5 billion.
Meanwhile, the SmartSafe API suite of PLDT Enterprise has been certified by the global mobile industry body GSMA, according to PLDT and Smart SVP and head of Enterprise Business Group Blums Pineda. This suite enhances the authentication process against unauthorized access to mobile users’ personal data, moving beyond the current use of one-time passwords (OTP). Pineda expressed pride in delivering the safest telco-powered authentication solution, stating that it fosters confidence for business growth.
In addition to Aguda, officials from other regulatory bodies, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, National Privacy Commission, and National Telecommunications Commission, attended the event. Aguda expressed optimism about the shift, highlighting the cooperation of telco players in aligning with the government’s goals for continuous enhancement of the telco industry while prioritizing data protection and privacy.
Aguda indicated plans for a consultation meeting with Smart and PLDT officials to further refine data protection policies, while remaining open to contributions from other players. Although Aguda aims to phase out the use of OTP, he acknowledged that this transition will not happen overnight, emphasizing the need to implement changes without public inconvenience.
