President Marcos said the government’s ongoing rollout of fiber optic infrastructure will not only connect more areas nationwide but also lower internet costs for millions of Filipinos by giving telcos access to public broadband infrastructure.

Marcos said this as he led the launch of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Phases 2 and 3 in Palo, Leyte, on Monday, July 7.

In his speech, the President said that having a government-owned fiber backbone would reduce the operational costs of telcos and internet providers, potentially leading to lower prices for consumers.

“Kapag buo na ang National Fiber Backbone, maaari nang mabawasan ang gastos ng mga telco at internet provider dahil may sarili na tayong imprastraktura, (Once the National Fiber Backbone is complete, telecom and internet providers can lower their costs because we now have our own infrastructure),” he said.

“Mas abot-kayang internet, mas maraming Pilipino ang makikinabang (More affordable internet means more Filipinos will benefit),” he added.

Marcos said the digital backbone is a vital public service that “should not be a privilege but a necessity,” especially for students, workers, small entrepreneurs, and rural families.

“Hindi na privilege ang pagkakaroon ng access sa mabilis na internet. Ito ay pangangailangan na (Having access to fast internet is no longer a privilege. It is now a necessity),” he said.

The President noted that while digital technology can help bridge educational and economic gaps, internet access remains uneven across the country. Some areas, particularly in isolated communities, still lack a reliable signal or infrastructure.

“May ilang bahagi ng bansa na hindi pa rin maabot ng signal kaya napipilitan pang bumyahe ng malayo para maghanap ng signal (Some parts of the country still don’t have signal, so people have to travel far just to find one),” he said.

“Pinapangako ko sa inyong lahat na ang ating pamahalaan ay hindi titigil hanggang ang buong bansa ay konektado (I promise you that this government will not stop until the entire country is connected),” he added.

Under Phases 2 and 3 of the NFB project, 1,781 kilometers of high-speed fiber lines were added to the national network, expanding it to underserved regions including Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Central Mindanao.

This follows the completion of Phase 1 last year, which laid 1,245 kilometers of fiber optic cable from Ilocos Norte to Quezon City.

President Marcos said that once the current phase is activated, more than 600 government offices will be connected to faster internet, and around 17 million Filipinos are expected to benefit.

“Patuloy nating binubuo ang mga tulay ng pag-asa (We continue to build the bridges of hope),” he said.

“Ito ang mga proyektong nag-uugnay sa atin sa taas ng kabundukan, baybayin ng dagat, o pinakaliblib na lugar (These are projects that connect us across mountains, coasts, and even the most remote areas),” he added.

According to Malacañang, the National Fiber Backbone aims to provide faster and reliable internet connectivity.

“The project’s completion is also likely to spur growth in rural areas, with internet penetration seen to increase to 65 percent from the current 33 percent. It aims to lower the price of the internet to as much as $5 per Mbps (megabit per second),” it said.

The President also urged all sectors to participate in what he called the “Digital Bayanihan,” a collective effort to make technology inclusive and accessible to all.

He said access to reliable digital infrastructure allows ordinary Filipinos to stay updated, earn income, connect with loved ones, and access educational or training content.

“Mas maaga ninyong malalaman kung may bagyong paparating o kung may job opening sa iba't ibang bayan (You’ll find out sooner if there’s a coming storm or if there are job opportunities in other towns),” Marcos said.

“Makakahanap kayo ng mga online buyer para sa inyong paninda. Makakapagpanood din kayo ng mga online tutorial kung paano magluto, magnegosyo, paano magtanim (You can find buyers for your products or watch online tutorials on how to cook, start a business, or farm),” he added.