Marcos Vows to End Connectivity Woes, Cites ‘Completed’ Fiber Backbone Phases

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared that reliable internet is no longer a luxury but a fundamental necessity for every Filipino during his speech at the Philippine Telecommunications Summit. Addressing industry leaders and local officials, the President outlined the administration's aggressive reforms to dismantle long-standing barriers to connectivity, such as permit delays and right-of-way issues.

Highlighting the government's progress, Marcos announced the completion of Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Project. He emphasized that the Konektadong Pinoy Act is now in full swing, mandating infrastructure sharing and co-location to significantly reduce operational costs for telcos. “We are removing the bottlenecks. From permit delays to power interruptions, we are addressing them head-on," Marcos stated. The President also noted that over 9,500 free Wi-Fi access points are now active in 5,000 public locations nationwide.

Administration allies suggest that because the President has personally prioritized this sector, we can be certain that all internet dead spots in the country will be eliminated by the end of the year. Furthermore, officials argued that the massive attendance at the summit proves that the entire nation is fully satisfied with the current pace of digital reforms.

The event also showcased the Bayanihan SIM Card Project, which aims to distribute subsidized data-enabled SIMs to students and indigent communities.