Gov’t launches multi-billion fiber network to boost Mindanao connectivity

The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) has kicked off phases 4 and 5 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) in Butuan City on August 11, marking a major milestone in the P16.1-billion Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) designed to close the country’s digital divide.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the rollout will deploy over 1,000 kilometers of high-speed, government-owned fiber network across Mindanao, connecting key urban centers such as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Zamboanga, and Davao.

“For so long, fast internet seemed to be available only in big cities: Manila, Cebu, Davao,” Aguda said. “But now, we have a clear directive from our President himself: ‘Ayusin ang koneksyon. Simulan sa mga probinsya.’”

Initially, the network will serve government offices, state universities, local government units, and hospitals, with plans to expand coverage to every barangay. Aguda said the initiative will help position Butuan as the “digital gateway of Mindanao,” drawing investments in data centers, technology hubs, and rural business process outsourcing (BPO) facilities.

“Mindanao will no longer be the last to connect; it will be among the first to lead,” he said. “This is the start of inclusive development, digital equity, digital justice, and digital empowerment.”

Jennifer Gui, World Bank Group task team leader for the project, underscored the importance of reliable internet access in driving economic and social progress. “This initiative will open doors to education, health care, government services, and economic opportunities, especially in remote areas,” Gui said, adding that the program aligns with both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision and the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (2025–2031).

The PDIP is the Philippines’ first digital infrastructure program supported by the World Bank, approved by the National Economic and Development Authority–Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) Board in June 2024. It will extend the NFB into the Visayas and Mindanao, expand the “Free Wi-Fi for All” program—particularly in Regions XI and XII—and bolster national cybersecurity measures.

The Butuan launch marks the start of procurement and mobilization for NFB phases 4 and 5, which are expected to connect 772 previously unserved public beneficiaries and cut the digital divide in Regions XI and XIII from 28 percent to 20 percent.

Aguda urged stakeholders to safeguard the infrastructure: “Watch over the fiber lines. Do not allow them to be damaged or stolen. Use technology for good, for business, for education. Tell your neighbors: we are now connected.”

The project will tap into existing National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) dark fibers and active equipment, integrating submarine cable links from the Visayas into Mindanao. “This is not just a ribbon-cutting. This is the beginning of real digital change,” Aguda said.