PALO, Leyte — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the launch of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Phases 2 and 3 on Monday at The Tropics in McArthur Park.
Citing the importance of digital connectivity, Marcos said and the NFB, once completed, would expand and strengthen the country’s internet infrastructure for greater nationwide reach.
“In this day and age, having access to fast internet is no longer a privilege, it is a necessity. It is needed for study, work, business, and to maintain connection with loved ones,” he said in Filipino.
The NFB aims to boost internet capacity in provinces, government offices, and data centers nationwide.
The expanded phases will extend coverage in Luzon, reach Eastern Visayas, and begin connecting major areas in Mindanao such as Cagayan de Oro and Davao City.
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Under Phases 2 and 3 of the NFB, 1,800 kilometers of new fiber optic cable have been laid out, expanding the high-speed digital infrastructure to Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Mindanao.
This builds on the success of Phase 1, which was launched in April 2024 and covered over 1,200 kilometers from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to Quezon City.
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Once completed, the project is expected to benefit over 600 government offices and improve connectivity for an estimated 17 million Filipinos.
“When the National Fiber Backbone is complete, the cost to telcos and internet providers can be reduced because we now have our own infrastructure. More affordable internet means more Filipinos are connected. So, when we say fiber backbone, the flow of information is faster,” Marcos said.
“I promise you all that our government will not stop until the entire country is connected,” he added.
The NFB is a flagship initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aimed at establishing a secure and robust nationwide fiber optic network that will serve as the backbone of the country’s digital infrastructure.
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“Fast, reliable internet should not be a luxury — it should be a basic service like roads, bridges, and electricity,” DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, who accompanied the president, said in his opening remarks.
Aguda emphasized that the infrastructure goes beyond bandwidth, as it expands opportunities, empowers communities, and transforms governance.
“This is how we build a Bagong Pilipinas — a nation that is smarter, kinder, more efficient, and more connected,” he added.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone called the project a game changer.
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“With better internet, communication between the capitol and our barangay (villages) is now faster and more efficient,” Evardone told The Manila Times.
“This is bayanihan in action — national leaders, local government units, and communities working together for one goal: better internet for all,” he added.
The event also marked the launch of Free Public Wi-Fi at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, reinforcing the government’s commitment to universal digital access.
