Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday highlighted the need for increased internet connectivity in the Philippines to bring micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) and nano-enterprises to the digital space.
Speaking at the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s launching of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Phase 1 project, Marcos stressed that the internet has become the “backbone of trade, communications, transactions within and amongst communities.”
“One of the most important aspects that we have focused upon is an effort, and that’s why connectivity has been very important… the very big push to bring MSMEs into the digital space. So that we get to the point where the sari-sari store does not sell only to the village. The sari-sari store can sell anywhere and that brings us to the digital space,” Marcos said.
“Even as to what we refer to the nano-enterprises… I’m talking about the shoe shine boy, the mekaniko (mechanics)… all of these nano-enterprises will also have access to that and that will give them more opportunities and that is such an important part of the economic transformation that we are hoping to achieve here in the Philippines,” the President added.
Tagging the completion of the NFB Phase 1 project as an “enormous breakthrough,” Marcos said that a fast and reliable internet would allow Filipinos to reach their full potential.
The completion of the next five phases of the NFB by 2026 is seen to increase the penetration rate from the current 33% to 65%, reaching 70 out of the 115 million Filipinos nationwide, he added.
The President said it is also expected to bring down the price of the internet to as much as $5 dollars per megabits per second (MPBS).
Further, Marcos said internet infrastructures such as the NFB would help the country’s economy and would foster greater inclusivity among Filipinos.
“Nationally, this is the infrastructure that will open employment opportunities, improve market efficiency, attract foreign investment, and stimulate livelihood across the different sectors of our economy and our society,” he said.
“It will close the digital divide and bring to our people the transformative power of free and fast access to information. It will allow the state to guarantee the people’s enjoyment of the internet as a basic human right,” he added.
In ending his speech, Marcos called on the NFB stakeholders to remain committed in completing the project to “bring our businesses closer to consumers, our nation closer to the rest of the world and our people closer to their loved ones.”
He likewise challenged his fellow public servants to spread these initiatives to all parts of the country, especially to those who remain without access to the internet to ensure that every Filipino is empowered in the digital era.
The NFB Phase 1 involved the activation of 28 nodes spanning from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to Roces, Quezon City.
Marcos said this would bring high speech internet access to at least 14 provinces in Northern and Central Luzon, two national government data centers, and four BCDA eco-zones. This will likewise empower 346 national and local government offices connected to the Government Network or GovNet.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
This article Marcos pushes for increased internet connectivity for MSMEs, nano-enterprises was originally published in GMA News Online.
News Related
-
Anyone who’s purchased gift baskets to hand out to loved ones this holiday season might need to find a backup present after the latest food recall that involves festive cookies. Gift basket company Wine Country Gift Baskets just announced that it is voluntarily recalling all gift baskets that feature Acorn Baking ...
See Details:
Recall Just Announced For Popular Cookies Featured In Holiday Gift Baskets
-
LOS ANGELES: Quarterback Jalen Hurts ran in an overtime touchdown to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 37-34 NFL win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday (Monday in Manila) and move them to 10-1 on the season. The Eagles, who lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City last season, trailed at half-time ...
See Details:
Eagles rally past Bills in overtime as Chiefs win
-
Yen Makabenta First word WHILE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other promoters of the climate emergency are preparing to convene the 28th conference of the parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates, starting on November 30 and stretching to December 12, ...
See Details:
Reality bites the green energy agenda
-
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers The Sandiganbayan has ordered the enforcement of a July 2023 ruling ordering a Marcos Sr. associate to pay a lumber company’s workers P2.1 million in damages as well as return 60 percent of their company’s shares and pay all unpaid benefits. The ...
See Details:
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers
-
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated MANILA, Philippines – More than 18,000 families have fled to evacuation centers across flood-affected regions in the country due to the impact of the shear line and low pressure area. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave ...
See Details:
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated
-
-
MANILA, Philippines: The entire Luzon, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms as the northeast monsoon (“amihan”) and easterlies will be affecting the country over the next 24 hours, the state-run weather agency said on Tuesday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric ...
See Details:
Rain showers, thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila — Pagasa
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
'Naruto' live-action film adaptation is in the works
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
NASA Highlights Stingray Nebula
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Manila's Lagusnilad underpass opens
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China probes debt-ridden financial giant
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China's VUCA situation
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Unraveling the mystery that is diabetes
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Bangladesh's nuke plant is not going to steal PH investments
OTHER NEWS
ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. President Alice H. Reyes has released the names of finalists for the 2023 Aliw Awards to be presented on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel ...
Read more »
WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos (Photo: Unsplash) The WhatsApp Web, the desktop version of the popular messaging app from Meta, has received an update allowing ...
Read more »
Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards MANILA, Philippines — The future heroes of Philippine sports will be honored during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on Dec. 4 ...
Read more »
Graphics by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas A local government official said Monday that five to 10 barangays in Northern Samar are still isolated following the massive flooding in the area last ...
Read more »
DyipPay app lets you pay jeepney fare, book tricycles “Barya lang po sa umaga.” Everyone who rides jeepneys knows this rule: it may not be an actual law, but it’s ...
Read more »
Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale Tuesday will mark the last day of pool play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. From there, six first-place teams and ...
Read more »
PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response MANILA, Philippines — Recent incidents of fishermen lost in the waters off Southern Tagalog have prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to form ...
Read more »