THE World Bank has approved $287.24 million in funding for a digital infrastructure project that is expected to benefit more than 20 million Filipinos.
“A robust broadband connectivity infrastructure is not just a technological necessity; it’s an essential cornerstone for the Philippines to boost growth and attain its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country in the next couple of years,” World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific Manuela Ferro said.
The Philippines Digital Infrastructure Project is expected to address significant service gaps in rural areas, where 45.5 percent of barangay (villages) remain unserved by private telecommunications providers.
The initiative is anchored on the National Broadband Program — a flagship initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. The funds will be used for the government’s national fiber optic backbone, middle-mile and last-mile connectivity infrastructure, and safeguarding against cybersecurity threats and climate risks.
“Bringing greater internet access to the grassroots can bridge the digital divide, empower communities and unlock the full potential of the digital economy,” Ferro said.
The project will complete the national fiber optic backbone, linking international landing stations in Baler in Luzon and Davao City in Mindanao.
Middle-mile investments will extend connectivity to underserved areas in regions such as the Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Soccksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), using underground fiber optic cables to bolster climate resilience.
Additionally, last-mile infrastructure will connect public institutions, schools and hospitals in Eastern Mindanao, providing free Wi-Fi access points and paving the way for commercial operators to serve households.
World Bank Country Director Zafer Mustafaoglu, meanwhile, pointed to the expected benefit for remote areas, saying that improved internet access would help Filipinos to gain better education, health care, social protection and government services.
The project will also integrate climate resilience into its design, utilizing materials and engineering solutions that can withstand extreme weather.
Cybersecurity measures, such as next-generation firewalls and multifactor authentication, will be implemented to protect the country’s broadband network from threats.
