Palo: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the launching of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Project Phases 2 and 3 in Palo, Leyte, as part of government efforts to extend fast and reliable internet access across more regions in the country, especially in remote and underserved communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, the expanded phases of the NFB will provide an additional 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bandwidth through 31 new nodes of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), benefiting at least 20 provinces, 1,000 government agencies, and an estimated 1.39 million users.
In his speech, Marcos emphasized the urgency of digital connectivity as a basic need. 'Sa panahon ngayon, hindi na pribilehiyo ang pagkakaroon ng access sa mabilis na internet. Ito ay pangangailangan na (Now, access to fast internet is no longer a privilege. It is now a necessity),' Marcos said. 'Kailangan nito sa pag-aaral, sa trabaho, sa negosyo, at para mapanatili ang koneksyon sa mga mahal sa buhay (It is needed for education, work, business, and to stay connected with loved ones).'
The President also acknowledged the disparity in internet access across the country, citing the daily struggles of those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) who still need to travel far just to find signal. 'Kaya narito kami ngayon upang ilapit ang internet para sa lahat (That is why we are here, to bring internet closer to everyone),' he said.
The newly activated phases of the NFB follow the successful rollout of Phase 1 in 2024, which laid a 1,245-kilometer fiber optic network connecting Laoag, Ilocos Norte to Quezon City. This initial backbone now serves 14 provinces in Northern and Central Luzon, Metro Manila, several ecozones, and national data centers.
Phases 2 and 3 will expand coverage in Luzon from Cagayan Valley to Calabarzon and the Bicol Region, traverse Eastern Visayas, and establish the groundwork for future connectivity in Mindanao by linking Cagayan de Oro and Davao cities.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which leads the project, aims to fully connect the country by 2028 through succeeding NFB phases, the Middle Mile Network, and last-mile programs like GovNet and Free Public Internet Access.
