Palo: Around 1.4 million Filipinos and over 1,000 additional government offices are set to benefit from faster and more reliable internet access through the completion of Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) program. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced that these phases will enhance internet connectivity across the Cagayan Region, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and key areas in Mindanao, including Cagayan de Oro and Davao.
According to Philippines News Agency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated the NFB Phases 2 and 3 in Palo, Leyte. This follows the completion of the NFB Phase 1, which established a 1,245-kilometer connection from Laoag to Quezon City. Phase 1 had already linked 14 provinces, Metro Manila, four Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) ecozones, and two national government data centers, connecting 346 government agencies and benefiting over 10 million Filipinos nationwide.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda highlighted that the expansion into previously underserved communities will provide enhanced digital opportunities. Aguda emphasized that the improvements in bandwidth and connectivity are expected to bring about faster services, reduced delays, and more efficient governmental operations. The initiative aims to improve services like distance learning, e-commerce, digital banking, and online marketplaces, while also providing quicker access to data and records for government offices.
Aguda urged collaboration among local government units, the private sector, civil society, and every Filipino to support this digital transformation. He stressed the importance of building a nation where government assistance is easily accessible and every citizen is acknowledged and served.
Additionally, a free public Wi-Fi site was launched at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, powered by the NFB node, during the event. President Marcos and Secretary Aguda also participated in a live interactive session with beneficiaries of the 'Free Wi-Fi for All' program from various parts of the country.
