TARLAC, Philippines — Tarlac, the heart of Central Luzon, is rapidly growing with expanding schools, thriving businesses, and increasing tourism – driving a greater need for reliable mobile connectivity in the province. Residents, enterprises, and visitors are relying more on mobile services for work, learning, and entertainment, making fast and stable internet essential for everyday life. The province is seeing significant infrastructure and development projects that are shaping its economic landscape. Major initiatives include the Capas-Botolan Road, a 68-kilometer corridor expected to cut travel time between Tarlac and Zambales from three hours to just over an hour by 2025. In Tarlac City, large-scale industrial estates and mixed-use townships are under development, alongside new manufacturing facilities and modern residential-commercial communities. Ongoing investments in Tarlac State University further enhance educational infrastructure, with laboratory refurbishments and building expansions supporting the next generation of talent. To address this demand, Globe is accelerating network upgrades across the province in 2025 and 2026. Additional LTE and 5G sites are being deployed to deliver faster speed and more consistent mobile experiences throughout Tarlac. The new build and expansion improved coverage and capacity in key municipalities including Tarlac City, Capas, Concepcion, Gerona, Victoria, Paniqui, Mayantoc, San Jose, Moncada, Santa Ignacia, La Paz, Camiling, Bamban, San Clemente, Pura, San Manuel, Ramos, and Anao. Residents can now enjoy smoother browsing, clearer calls, and quicker uploads and downloads, enabling seamless connectivity for work, school, and leisure activities. Joel Agustin, Head of Service Planning and Engineering at Globe, highlighted the importance of the upgrades. He said that Tarlac blends cultural heritage with modern business and lifestyle opportunities, and Globe is committed to providing seamless connectivity for everyone, whether at work, in school, or exploring the province’s tourism destinations. The new network strengthens coverage and delivers fast, reliable mobile experiences for both residents and visitors. The enhanced network also allows customers to take full advantage of Globe’s mobile offers. Globe users can enjoy GO+99 and UNLI 5G 50, while TM subscribers can access TM EasySURF50 5G for affordable, dependable connectivity. These offers support streaming, online learning, digital entrepreneurship, and daily communication, making mobile services more accessible and convenient. Local businesses and institutions also benefit from the network expansion. Companies gain operational efficiency, schools gain better support for digital learning, and tourists experience smoother online access for navigation, bookings, and content sharing. Globe’s continued investments are recognized by independent industry analysis. The company maintains its title as the Most Consistent Network in the Philippines according to Ookla, reflecting the reliability subscribers experience nationwide. As Tarlac develops into a hub for commerce and tourism, Globe’s network upgrades ensure communities remain digitally empowered. By combining robust infrastructure with accessible mobile services, Globe supports the province’s progress and helps residents stay connected in an increasingly digital world.      

Strategic partnership aims to reduce internet costs, expand fiber coverage, and accelerate the Philippines’ digital transformation   LA UNION, Philippines — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and telecommunications company InfiniVAN have signed a long-term lease agreement to develop the Poro Point Cable Landing Station in La Union into an open gateway for international submarine cables, a move expected to expand internet capacity, improve network reliability, and help bring down connectivity costs for Filipino businesses and households. The partnership will maximize the use of BCDA’s information and communications technology (ICT) assets at the Poro Point Freeport Zone and strengthen the country’s international digital infrastructure. The agreement covers the Poro Point Cable Landing Station and related facilities under the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure, a strategic collaboration among the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), BCDA, and Meta aimed at improving the Philippines’ global internet connectivity. The Luzon Bypass Infrastructure established a 240-kilometer fiber corridor linking Baler, Aurora on the eastern coast of Luzon to San Fernando, La Union on the western coast. BCDA built the backbone infrastructure, which includes two cable landing stations, four repeater stations, and supporting terrestrial facilities, while DICT oversees its operations. Under the partnership, the Poro Point facility will be operated as an Open Cable Landing Station, capable of hosting multiple submarine cable systems while allowing domestic network providers to colocate their equipment. Designed to support two additional submarine cable operators, the model promotes greater competition in international connectivity and encourages new investments in submarine cable infrastructure. “This partnership with InfiniVAN’s nationwide fiber-optic network will expand access and service coverage, help lower the cost of internet services for enterprises and households, and accelerate the country’s digital transformation as it keeps pace with its ASEAN neighbors and the broader global digital economy,” said BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang. InfiniVAN Chairman Koji Miyashita said integrating the Poro Point Cable Landing Station into the company’s backbone network will allow submarine cable capacities landing on the northwest coast of Luzon to be distributed more efficiently to optical distribution hubs across the country. “This East–West connectivity will play a vital role in ensuring the resiliency and security of the nation’s communications infrastructure,” he said. InfiniVAN will operate both the Poro Point Cable Landing Station and the upcoming Baler Cable Landing Station under an Open CLS model, enabling any submarine cable system to land at these facilities and allowing multiple backhaul providers to operate within them. The development builds on InfiniVAN’s Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) and its ongoing construction of a new cable landing station in Baler, Aurora, which will serve as a landing point for the recently announced CANDLE submarine cable system. CANDLE is a 24-fiber-pair intra-Asia submarine cable with an estimated capacity of 570 terabits per second and is expected to become operational in 2028. Together, these developments position the Philippines to capture a larger share of regional data traffic and strengthen its role in Asia’s expanding digital infrastructure network. The initiative supports the digitalization agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which prioritizes stronger digital infrastructure, expanded connectivity, and improved access to online services to boost economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness. In attendance were InfiniVAN, Inc. President Shigeki Nakahara, Chief Financial Officer Valenbert Juan, and InfiniVAN Advisor Alejandro A. Aquino, with BCDA Chairperson Atty. Larry B. Paredes serving as witness to the ceremony.

PILI,Camarines Sur, Philippines – Governor Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte, Jr. is opening the CamSur Uptown, a priority innovative project of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur. This master planned global city, set to be the province’s center of governance, commerce, technology, and culture, is also poised to become the official home of the highly anticipated Kaogma Festival. Opening its gates to the public on March 27, 2026, the CamSur Uptown will debut through Uptown Kaogma Nights, a pre-Kaogma Festival series of festive weekend celebrations happening every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:00 PM until May 10, 2026. The Uptown Kaogma Nights will offer an exciting blend of experiences for all ages, including sumptuous food, live music and band performances, night markets, free rides, fun games, and immersive activities. With its lively atmosphere and welcoming night vibes, the venue will truly live up to its name as “The Weekend Playground of CamSur.” Best of all, admission is free, making it accessible to families, friends, and visitors from all walks of life. Governor Villafuerte, the brains behind CamSur Uptown, shared how this dynamic and inclusive community space was thoughtfully developed for the CamSureños. “More than just a venue, the CamSur Uptown is a place where families can bond, friends can gather, and our youth can express themselves and create meaningful memories. We envisioned this as a safe, vibrant, and shared space for connection and recreation where everyone can unwind, enjoy, and celebrate life together. I warmly invite all our constituents and visitors to experience Uptown Kaogma Nights and make CamSur Uptown your summer hangout place.” Beyond its weekend festivities, CamSur Uptown will also serve as the new official home of the Kaogma Festival 2026, set to take place from May 26 to 31, 2026. This year’s festival promises an electrifying lineup featuring some of the country’s most celebrated artists, including Ben&Ben, Lola Amour, IV of Spades, Dilaw, Gloc-9, and Paul N Ballin, alongside many other surprise international artists of today’s generation. At its core, the CamSur Uptown will house the Iconic Capitol Building, together with offices and mixed-use buildings, hotels and resorts, residential spaces, a hospital, a digital campus, a lifestyle hub and mall, and logistics and manufacturing facilities.

Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines – A sister port agreement between the Port of Subic and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is being considered during the visit of delegates from the Embassy of Belgium to the Philippines here on March 16, 2026. Belgian Ambassador Her Excellency Vladislava Iordanova paid a visit along with officials from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI), the consultancy and investment subsidiary of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. During their visit, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) team, led by Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, proposed a Sister Port Agreement between the two ports to enhance the traditional friendship between the SBMA and the PoABI. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the largest petrochemical cluster in Europe and the second-largest in the world; it is also the largest car-handling port in Europe, handling more than 3 million cars per year. It has two oil refineries and is a frontrunner in the energy transition. The port is also a driver of economic growth with 4.5% GDP contribution and a total annual throughput of +370 million tonnes, including +13 million TEUs. Meanwhile, the Subic Bay Freeport has several locators with European Equity, including Agila NY Naval Inc. and Agila South Inc. from the Netherlands, with a combined investment commitment of US$350 million. Other notable companies inside the Freeport with EU Equities include PMNFTC Inc. from Switzerland with US$7M committed investment; Luxury Subic Home Development Corp. from Belarus with US$1M committed investment; and Schenker Philippines Inc. from Germany with US$0.9M committed investment. (30)      

Camp Colonel Juan Q. Miranda, Camarines Sur — Nagsagawa ang Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (CSPPO), sa pamumuno ni PCOL Virgilio O Olalia, Jr, Provincial Director, ng Family,Juvenile and Gender Affairs Development (FJGAD), mula sa isang Community Outreach Program sa Barangay Sto. Domingo, Iriga City noong Marso 20. Pinangunahan ni PCPT Joan S. Jacob, Chief ng FJGAD, kasama sina PLTCOL Jeric Don P. Sadia, COP ng Iriga CPS, at mga personnel mula sa PCAD/FJGAD, Iriga CPS, at 4th District ang naturang aktibidad. Isinagawa ang outreach program para sa Inorogan Tribe bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng 2026 National Women’s Month Celebration. Tampok sa programa ang pagbibigay ng mga lektura hinggil sa gender equality at women empowerment, mga mensahe mula sa mga lokal na opisyal at kapulisan, gayundin ang pamamahagi ng mga damit, grocery items, at feeding program para sa mga benepisyaryo. Layunin ng aktibidad na patibayin ang ugnayan ng kapulisan at komunidad, palaganapin ang kamalayan ukol sa karapatan ng kababaihan at gender equality, at maghatid ng suporta sa mga katutubong pamayanan. Binigyang-diin din nito ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaisa, kooperasyon, at pagtitiwala sa pagitan ng pulisya at ng Inorogan Tribe. Ayon kay Olalia, “Ang ganitong mga programa ay sumasalamin sa malasakit ng kapulisan sa komunidad. Patuloy nating isusulong ang karapatan at kapakanan ng kababaihan habang pinatitibay ang tiwala at pakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga katutubong grupo.”