"Interconnection between telcos is important for public service and regulators mandate telco players to provide adequate interconnection facilities so that their subscribers can communicate with each other. Any restriction on interconnection, specially from more dominant player/s is considered an anti-competitive action.

Telcos in the Philippines cannot opt to decide not to interconnect, thanks to Executive Order No. 59 issued in 1993 by President Fidel V. Ramos.

Section 2 of the EO states that the “interconnection between NTC authorized public telecommunications carriers shall be compulsory.”

Telcos therefore can not decide on their own not to interconnect or limit interconnections for any reason whatsoever. They have adequate legal avenues to course their grievances of other telcos causing damages to their networks and income, but they cannot use interconnection as a weapon." taken from the FB post of former NTC Commissioner Eliseo Rio Jr.

Source link of fb post of former NTC Commissioner Eliseo Rio Jr: https://www.facebook.com/eliseoriojr/posts/10224524116743522