Facebook opens office in PH

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Facebook Vice President for Asia Pacific Dan Neary announced on Wednesday (April 20) that the social network has opened its first office in Manila, Philippines.

The new Manila office aims to strengthen Facebook's investment in the Philippines and commitment to help connect people with the businesses and moments that matter to Filipinos.

In a post on his verified Facebook page, Neary said that over 49 million Filipinos access Facebook every month to connect with their friends and loved ones. The figure represents "over 91% of the [country's] internet population."

"The Philippines is a highly engaged mobile-first nation filled with people who are creative, entrepreneurial and have a strong sense of community," he added.

Neary also pointed out that Filipino Facebook users are also utilizing the site for business purposes: "2 in 3 Filipinos are connected to a business Page on Facebook, and they're using the platform to discover new brands and products."

According to a 2014 study by media agency Universal McCann, 86.7 percent of active Filipino internet users aged 16 to 54 managed a social network in the past six months before the survey. Similarly, 82.8 percent of those in the same group used smartphones.

However, the survey also pointed out that country's internet penetration rate for 2014 stood at 46.1 percent.

During a press event on Thursday, Facebook also announced that it has appointed Digs Dimagiba to serve as Head of Philippines for Facebook. In his role, Dimagiba will lead the local business team that will partner closely with businesses and agencies, helping them get more value out of Facebook's solutions.

"The Philippines is a country that has seen a tremendous growth in connectivity in recent years, creating one of the world’s most highly engaged online populations... I'm excited to lead the dynamic Facebook team in Manila, and to help our partners innovate and achieve their business goals,” he said.