Around 1.4 million Filipinos and over 1,000 additional government offices will have faster and more reliable internet connections once Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) program are completed.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the NFB Phases 2 and 3 will push high-speed internet deeper into the Cagayan Region, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and key areas in Mindanao such as the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Davao.
“These expansions will significantly increase the country’s digital capacity, enabling more local governments, schools, health centers, and communities to connect and thrive,” it said.
This was after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the launch of the NFB Phases 2 and 3 in Palo, Leyte, on Monday, after the completion of the NFB Phase 1 that stretched 1,245 kilometers from Laoag to Quezon City.
The NFB Phase 1 linked 14 provinces, Metro Manila, four Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) ecozones, and two national government data centers.
“This backbone connects 346 government agencies and benefits over 10 million Filipinos nationwide,” the DICT said.
During the event, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said Phases 2 and 3 of the NFB will reach farther into communities long overlooked and provide homes with more opportunities through a strong and stable digital connection.
“We’re not just expanding bandwidth. We’re expanding hope. This initiative means faster services, fewer delays, and more efficient government,” Aguda said.
The NFB program is expected to improve services such as distance learning, e-commerce, digital banking, online marketplaces for the public, as well as faster access to data, records, and services for government offices such as health centers and local government units.
“We call on our LGUs, the private sector, civil society, and every Filipino: let’s work together… Let’s build a country where government help is just one click away, where every citizen is seen, heard, and served,” he said.
During the launch, a free public Wi-Fi site was also activated at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, powered by the NFB node.
Marcos and Aguda also engaged in a live interactive session with beneficiaries of the “Free Wi-Fi for All” program from across the country.
PNA PHOTO
