00:00I would just like to add to what Mike was saying when he said,
00:08you congratulated EPLDT and Vitro for what they have done.
00:13I now would like to add to that and congratulate the Philippines
00:18because we now have this incredible facility
00:22which makes us AI ready and definitely in the running
00:26to compete with our neighbors and our partners all around the world.
00:32And that is a very important achievement.
00:37That important milestone is what we mark here today in Santa Rosa,
00:42this launch of the Vitro Santa Rosa or VSR Data Center.
00:47It stands as proof that the Philippines is future ready for the digital realm.
00:52There is some work left to do, but we are ready to do that work
00:57so we can be an equal player in the world of data and data processing.
01:04This launch also reflects our commitment to regional development.
01:08We bring the digital progress beyond outside of Metro Manila
01:12into the heart of our provinces.
01:14Fully energized, artificial intelligence ready,
01:17built to support hyperscale, cloud, enterprise workloads.
01:22In other words, the Googles, the Amazons, the Facebooks of this world.
01:26Those who are not techie might ask,
01:28ano ba yung data center na yan?
01:30A data center is akin to a warehouse.
01:33Parang warehouse yan.
01:35Ngunit, imbis na yung mga gamit,
01:38ang naka-storage dun,
01:40instead of boxes of products,
01:42we store digital information
01:43such as emails, videos, business records, government files,
01:48even the apps on your phone.
01:50It keeps everything running safely and securely 24 hours, 7 days a week.
01:57Every time you attend a virtual meeting,
01:59every time you book a plane ticket,
02:01every time you pay online,
02:03go shopping,
02:04even stream your favorite movies and drama series,
02:07that data passes through a facility like this.
02:12In today's world, data is as critical as water and electricity.
02:18We need to strengthen further our digital infrastructure,
02:22especially for critical, private, and confidential data.
02:27We need to safeguard our digital security.
02:30We need to secure our digital future.
02:34So how important, in fact,
02:36is a secure digital information system?
02:40Itong mga panahon na ito,
02:42paano natin nalalaman kapag
02:44in a relationship na ang dalawang tao?
02:48Nowadays, they call it an Instagram hard launch.
02:52Posting of romantic pictures sa IG
02:54na may caption,
02:55found my forever or such like.
02:58Meron ding soft launch.
03:00I look at the social media post of Sando,
03:02siya nagturo sa akin ito.
03:04Paano mo naman malalaman
03:06kung hiwalay na,
03:07nag-unfollow at nag-block na kagad.
03:10Burahan ang picture.
03:12Pero minsan,
03:13napapasilip pa rin sa archive
03:15na nagbapakasakaling may naiwang pang picture
03:18para may memories.
03:20Buti na lang,
03:21may data center na tayo.
03:24Kasi kahit siya ay hindi na bumalik,
03:26yung alala,
03:28nakaka-backup pa rin,
03:30yan ang sinasabi natin,
03:32tech has your back.
03:33As a powerful tool, though,
03:36in the digital age,
03:38this mega-infrastructure
03:39provides essential protection
03:42for sensitive data
03:43across the public and private sectors.
03:46The launch of this landmark ICT infrastructure
03:49is also a testament
03:50to the people-centered future we are building.
03:54A Philippines
03:54where technology and human connection
03:57go hand-in-hand
03:59and exist seamlessly.
04:01Over the past couple of years,
04:03the Philippines has made meaningful strides
04:06in the digital space.
04:07In the Global Innovation Index,
04:09out of 133 economies,
04:11we rose from 56th place in 2023
04:14to 53rd place in 2024.
04:18It is an improvement
04:19that reflects our collective effort
04:21to accelerate Philippine progress
04:23through innovation.
04:25But this achievement
04:26does not make us complacent
04:28because we need to do more.
04:30We must continue to strive for more.
04:34And this is why
04:34this administration
04:35is persistently taking deliberate steps
04:38to propel us
04:39to even greater heights.
04:41In April of 2024,
04:44we launched
04:45the National Fiber Backbone Project Phase 1.
04:49The NFB will deploy fiber optic cable
04:51and wireless technology
04:52required to enhance
04:53internet accessibility
04:54and speed nationwide.
04:56We aim to complete the entire project
05:00by 2028.
05:03Through the Free Public Internet Access Program,
05:05we have established
05:06more free Wi-Fi sites nationwide
05:08with more than 11 million user sessions
05:11recorded as of March 2025,
05:15including in GIDA areas
05:17or geographically isolated
05:18and disadvantaged areas.
05:21Additionally,
05:22to ensure energy reliability
05:23reliability
05:24as well as create
05:25an investor-friendly environment,
05:28the Department of Energy
05:29through its Energy Virtual
05:31One-Stop Shop System
05:32is streamlining
05:34the applications
05:35and permitting process
05:36for energy projects.
05:38This will ensure
05:39that we have enough power
05:40to support
05:41our hyperscale data centers,
05:43including companies
05:44that want to build
05:45their own renewable energy facilities
05:48that can generate power
05:49for self-use.
05:51With these efforts
05:53of creating
05:53a more digitally connected
05:55and energy-aware environment,
05:57the inauguration of VSR
05:59signaled the country's readiness
06:01to attract
06:02the world's largest
06:03technology companies
06:04and showcase
06:05our regional competitiveness
06:07in the digital space.
06:09More than that,
06:10this technological development
06:12is an investment
06:13on the future
06:14of every Filipino.
06:16The Filipino student
06:17who studies
06:18and conducts research online,
06:19the small business owner
06:21who relies on social media
06:23and e-commerce,
06:24the Filipino worker
06:25who lives far
06:26from his or her family,
06:28counting on technology
06:29to bridge that distance.
06:32This technological infrastructure
06:34strengthens connection,
06:36not just digitally.
06:38It ensures that innovation
06:39fosters connection,
06:41brings opportunities,
06:43and uplifts lives.
06:45Alongside infrastructure,
06:46we are equipping our people
06:49with the requisite expertise,
06:51anchoring on our broader goal
06:53under the Digital Workforce
06:55Competitiveness Act.
06:57This will build
06:58a workforce
06:59that is future-ready,
07:01inclusive,
07:02and able to thrive
07:03in the digital economy.
07:05Our job
07:06in the government
07:07is to create
07:07the conditions for growth.
07:09But real progress
07:10comes from partnership,
07:12from trust,
07:13commitment,
07:13and the shared vision.
07:14Of course,
07:16we would not be here today
07:17without the steadfast partnership
07:18of our friends
07:19from the Vitro
07:20and EPLDT Group.
07:22Thank you for your vision,
07:24for your trust,
07:24and most especially
07:25in your confidence
07:26in the Filipino people.
07:28And to our visionary investors,
07:31I invite you
07:31to come to explore
07:33the potential
07:33of Filipino ingenuity.
07:36Bring your technology here
07:38that has shaped
07:39the digital economy
07:40together
07:41with the Filipino
07:42being your greatest asset.
07:45So as we celebrate
07:46this event,
07:47let us remember,
07:49the bagong Pilipinas
07:50we aim to achieve
07:51is not just about rebuilding,
07:53it is about reimagining
07:54and transforming.
07:56A nation that embraces
07:57digital transformation
07:58is a nation
07:59that secures
08:00inclusive progress.
08:03Once again,
08:04congratulations to EPLDT
08:06for the successful launch
08:07of Vitro Santa Rosa.
08:08Maraming maraming salamat
08:10at mabuhay
08:12ang bagong Pilipinas.
08:14Magandang umaga
08:14sa inyo lahat.
