President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. underscored the critical role of data in today’s digital society, likening its importance to essential utilities like water and electricity.
Speaking at the launch of the VITRO Sta. Rosa Data Center—a 50-megawatt hyperscale facility—Marcos emphasized the need for robust digital infrastructure, especially to protect sensitive and confidential information in both public and private sectors.
“In our digital world, data is as vital as basic utilities. We must enhance our cybersecurity and ensure our digital future is secure,” he said.
The President described data centers as the digital age’s equivalent of warehouses—housing everything from emails and apps to government records and video files—and ensuring operations run smoothly around the clock.
He also drew a lighthearted comparison to modern online relationships, noting that how people manage digital data and privacy today can resemble the way they signal romantic milestones on social media. “There’s the ‘hard launch’ with a caption like ‘Found my Forever,’ and the ‘soft launch’—a casual post with a hint. Breakups? Unfollows and photo deletions,” Marcos joked, crediting son Sandro for introducing him to these trends.
The VITRO Sta. Rosa facility, the Philippines’ first AI-ready hyperscale data center, connects to PLDT’s extensive subsea cable network, placing the country on the digital map as a key tech hub for Asia, the U.S., and Europe. The project signals the nation’s readiness to support global cloud and AI infrastructure demands and promotes the Philippines as a prime location for digital investment.