Around 1.4 million Filipinos and over 1,000 additional government offices will benefit from faster and more reliable internet connections once Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) program are completed.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced that the NFB Phases 2 and 3 will extend high-speed internet access deeper into the Cagayan Region, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and key areas in Mindanao, including 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,” the DICT stated.
The announcement follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s launch of the NFB Phases 2 and 3 in Palo, Leyte, on Monday, after the successful completion of NFB Phase 1, which stretched 1,245 kilometers from Laoag to Quezon City. 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 added.
During the event, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda emphasized that Phases 2 and 3 of the NFB will reach communities that have long been overlooked, providing 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 stated.
The NFB program is expected to enhance services such as distance learning, e-commerce, digital banking, and online marketplaces for the public, as well as provide faster access to data, records, and services for government offices, including 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 urged.
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 engaged in a live interactive session with beneficiaries of the “Free Wi-Fi for All” program from across the country.