Marcos approves PHP16.1B digital infrastructure project

On Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the PHP16.1-billion Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) aimed at enhancing broadband connectivity and cybersecurity in underserved areas of the Philippines.

Funded by a World Bank loan worth US $288 million and implemented by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, PDIP includes establishing 772 free Wi-Fi sites in Mindanao, focusing on public schools, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and rural health units.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy highlighted that the initiative seeks to complete the national fiber backbone and bring high-speed internet connection even to disadvantaged areas where internet penetration is lower than 17 percent, particularly in Regions XI and XIII.

The government targets to connect Metro Manila to Southern Luzon this year and extend submarine cables across Visayas and Mindanao as part of Phase 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone project.

Dy emphasized that improving internet access can stimulate economic growth by increasing consumer spending, benefiting local businesses such as farmers and sari-sari stores through e-commerce opportunities.