The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has started the final stages — Phases 4 and 5 — of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) project to bring high-speed internet connectivity across Mindanao.

Under the P16.1-billion Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP), the remaining phases of NFB will connect key Mindanao cities—including Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Zamboanga, and Davao—through over 1,000 kilometers of government-owned fiber, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

“For so long, fast internet seemed to be available only in big cities: Manila, Cebu, Davao. But now, we have a clear directive from our President himself: ‘Fix the connections. Start with provinces,” DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda said.

“Mindanao will no longer be the last to connect; it will be among the first to lead,” he added.

The World Bank-backed NFB was developed to build a government-owned high-speed fiber network that will serve as the backbone for public internet access, benefiting government agencies, public institutions, and underserved communities. Once completed, it will bring down internet costs for consumers.

World Bank Task Team Leader Jennifer Gui said the project supports inclusive and climate-resilient connectivity and aligns with the national government’s connectivity goals.

“This initiative will open doors to education, health care, government services, and economic opportunities, especially in remote areas,” Gui said.