P2-B budget for nat’l broadband backed

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is seeking additional funding for the rollout of the National Broadband Project next year.

The DICT said in a statement on Friday that in line with this effort, it won the support of House Committee Chair on ICT Victor Yap, Deputy Speaker Arthur Yap and Appropriations Committee vice chair Joey Salceda in endorsing the P2-billion proposed budget for the project.

It said the funds would be used to accelerate the “operational stage” of the National Broadband Project, which is part of the administration’s broader goal to improve the quality of internet services and bring down costs.

The DICT noted that the P2-billion budget included the  Luzon Bypass Infrastructure (LBI), which links to the fiber optic cables of the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo). The LBI will have a capacity of 2 terabits per second.

“We must pick up from our achievements we’ve had this year, so we are grateful for the support of our representatives. We hope other members of the Congress can support the initiative, which is now on its crucial stage,” DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. said in the statement.

The DICT sees the National Broadband Project as the “missing link” that would bolster connectivity across the country.

Rio noted that the bigger budget would fast track the implementation of the project, given that the DICT had already secured two separate tripartite agreements this year ahead of the start of operations.

“We are convinced that the NBP (National Broadband Project) can finally get rid of our country’s long standing issue of poor and costly internet connection. The DICT is ready, capable, and determined to spearhead this initiative, as proven by our recent actions. We should get our acts together as public servants and not waste any more time,” Rio said.