TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - To expand the connectivity through information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructures at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP), the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Now Group on August 3.

The MOU was signed by CEZA, through its Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile, and Now Group, through its Chairperson, Mel Velarde, and CEZA Deputy Administrator for Operations, Atty. Marichelle de Guzman and Now Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Henry Andrews Abes as official witnesses

Under the MoU, the Now Group will design and develop a world-class communications critical infrastructure that also provides unified connectivity, software systems, and services at the CSEZFP, and it will build the most advanced 5G infrastructure in the Philippines, thereby bringing in more investments and locators.

To jumpstart the project, Now Group will be conducting technical studies, which will be used as a baseline for the digital infrastructure system and design that will be presented to CEZA later on.

The undertaking will make available fixed wired, fixed wireless, terrestrial, satellite, and other delivery systems that will offer reliable, quality, and secured broadband and other ICT services at the CSEZFP.

In a statement, Velarde lauded Enrile’s initiative to make CEZA a springboard for a truly digital Philippines, since the vision for a truly digital Philippines is one of the agenda mentioned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., during his latest State of the Nation Address in July.

She also praised Enrile for being the first to lead and show other government officials how to put the president’s words into action.

Secretary Enrile, on the other hand, shared that she takes the President’s directive seriously and hopes to be able to comply with the directives within the President’s term as initiatives to reaffirm the positive trajectory of the Philippines’ digital revolution.

The secretary also shared that this undertaking surely complements the mandate of CEZA for tourism promotions and investment generation, especially in upholding its place as a gaming jurisdiction and in its endeavor towards being a financial technology (fintech) hub.

The understanding, however, entails a non-exclusive arrangement for the development of telecommunications infrastructure and services in the area, as Enrile assured other telecommunications companies that are interested in coming in.

On the other hand, Velarde said that Now Telecoms already has an advantage as a telecoms developer because it is a company already identified by the American government whose network and standards are trusted by the latter to be aligned with their interests.

As an investment promotion agency, the CEZA has opened the CSEZFP to many industries, and the majority of the current CEZA-registered enterprises are Chinese companies.

In a statement, CEZA said that the undertaking complements CEZA’s efforts to develop the CSEZFP as a critical hub of economic activity and technological progress, not just for Northern Luzon but for the entire country.

Also in the MOU signing were Now Telecoms' Engr Rene Rosales, CEZA Chief of Staff  Carlos Miguel Hernandez, other CEZA and Now Group staff, and media representatives. (OTB/MDCT/With reports from CEZA/PIA Cagayan)