Palo: Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday welcomed the rollout of Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Project in Palo, Leyte, describing it as a strong step toward giving every Filipino household access to fast and reliable internet. 'President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is making sure internet service becomes a basic right, not a privilege,' Romualdez said in a news release. 'This launch shows we are serious about bringing dependable connections to people who have waited far too long.'
According to Philippines News Agency, Romualdez, Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda, and other officials joined the President at the launching ceremonies held at The Tropics in McArthur Park Hotel in Palo, Leyte. With the new phases, the NFB project will expand its coverage in Luzon, reach across the Visayas including Eastern Visayas, and begin rollout in parts of Mindanao. It aims to connect nearly 1,000 government offices, 20 provinces, benefiting around 17 million Filipinos, including 1.39 million unique users.
Romualdez emphasized that in today's world, internet access is no longer a luxury but 'a necessity that every Filipino family must have.' He asserted that 'connectivity should not depend on where you live. Every barangay, from the center of the city to the farthest island, deserves access to reliable internet.' He further stated that the initiative is not just about internet speed but about enabling Filipino families to access government services faster, ensuring unhampered learning for students wherever they are, and providing small businesses with greater opportunities to grow and compete globally.
Apart from the Phases 2 and 3 of the NFB, President Marcos also launched free public Wi-Fi at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Palo, Leyte. Started in 2024, the NFB project is a multi-phase effort to create a high-speed, secure communications network across the country. The expanded coverage in Phases 2 and 3 sets the stage for future growth in digital health, education, and commerce in areas like Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and beyond.
