Baler, Aurora — In a landmark event that promises to shape the future of Philippine digital infrastructure, InfiniVAN, Inc. officially broke ground on Wednesday (August 6) on the InfiniVAN Baler Cable Landing Station (CLS) — a transformative development in the country’s broadband connectivity landscape.
Held at the designated CLS site along Suklayin-Buhangin Road in Baler, Aurora, the event gathered government leaders, technology partners, Japanese business executives, and local officials, all united by a shared vision: to bridge the digital divide, empower local communities, and future-proof the nation’s internet infrastructure.
A Strategic Step Toward a Digitally Inclusive Nation
The InfiniVAN Baler CLS will serve as a crucial link between the Philippines and global digital highways. It will be an open-access, carrier-neutral station connecting submarine fiber optic cables to terrestrial networks — a move expected to drastically improve international bandwidth capacity, resiliency, and redundancy.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Koji Miyashita, Chairman of InfiniVAN, emphasized the long-term impact of the project:
“The InfiniVAN Baler Cable Landing Station is not just a project. It is a promise—to reduce digital divides, to unlock boundless opportunities, and to empower the Filipino people on the global digital stage.”
He added that Baler’s strategic location — safely distanced from geopolitically sensitive regions like the West Philippine Sea — provides the Philippines with a new, secure digital entry point to the world, ensuring safer and more stable communications.
In Support of the National Digital Agenda
The groundbreaking aligns with the Philippine government’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion under the National Broadband Plan. In a video message, DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda conveyed his full support:
“This project supports our national broadband plan and strengthens our position as a digital leader in the Asia-Pacific region. We commend InfiniVAN for this critical investment in our digital future… This will accelerate our government's push to accelerate the digital transformation in our country through secure, high-capacity, and future-ready connectivity infrastructure. This cable landing station will not only enhance Aurora's digital capacity and strengthen the national internet backbone, but will also deliver connectivity and changes that our future generations will feel even.”
Moreso, DICT Asec. Phillip Varilla underscored the CLS’s strategic role in modernizing the country’s telecommunications backbone:
“A Cable Landing Station is a very important facility because it provides us alternatives as well as more internet capacity going to the Philippines. It also helps not just the provision of digital connectivity, but also data centers. It connects data centers inside the Philippines to all over the world. As you mentioned in your letter, it's going to modernize, upgrade whatever facility we have, nowhere in the Philippines, and it will provide a better posture forward for the Philippines.”
NTC Director Imelda Walcien also recognized the importance of industry cooperation and innovation in accelerating universal access to quality broadband services.
A Philippine-Japan Partnership in Action
The event also highlighted the strength of international partnerships, particularly between Japan and the Philippines. Mr. Naobumi Yokota, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan, reaffirmed the two countries’ collaboration in advancing technological infrastructure and connectivity.
Representing the construction partner TAISEI Corporation, President Koki Irie pledged the company’s full commitment to the safe and timely completion of the CLS — ensuring adherence to international standards of engineering excellence.
Local Impact and Community Engagement
More than a national infrastructure milestone, the CLS is also seen as a catalyst for local development. Representing the Municipality of Baler, Vice Mayor Denise Alyanna Angara welcomed the investment and expressed confidence that the project would spur economic opportunities and connectivity for the province.
Mr. Miyashita, in his speech, reassured the community of InfiniVAN’s commitment to inclusive growth:
“We are dedicated to listening to the voices of Baler’s residents and ensuring this project benefits everyone… Your well-being, your perspectives, and your partnership are at the heart of our mission.”
He noted that InfiniVAN is looking into creating local employment, training opportunities, and partnerships as the CLS becomes operational.
A Platform for the Future of Digital Services
The InfiniVAN Baler CLS is envisioned to not only improve broadband services but also serve as a springboard for future technologies, including:
- AI and cloud-based services
- Smart city infrastructure
- Data centers and enterprise platforms
By offering open access to domestic and international players, the CLS is set to stimulate healthy competition, bring down costs, and improve the quality of digital services — particularly for underserved areas in Luzon and across the country.
What’s Next
With the CLS construction now underway, InfiniVAN is focused on completing the landing station and its interconnection to domestic networks. Once operational, the station will significantly enhance connectivity diversity, reducing the Philippines’ reliance on a single submarine cable route.
InfiniVAN President Mr. Shigeki Nakahara closed the program with optimism:
“We are honored to contribute to building a truly connected nation. This is only the beginning of a much bigger movement toward digital transformation.”
From the shores of Baler, a new chapter begins. The InfiniVAN Baler CLS is more than infrastructure — it’s a symbol of collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. It reflects a vision where no region is left behind, and where every Filipino gains access to opportunities powered by world-class connectivity.
As Mr. Miyashita eloquently stated:
“From this beautiful coastal town, we embark together on a journey—one that will connect the Philippines and its limitless potential, to the entire world.”
