The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has recently launched free internet services in 23 sites nationwide.
Gregorio Honasan II, DICT secretary, led the National Capital Region leg of the launch held at the Army General Hospital in Taguig City last October 8. The launch was done simultaneously in 17 regions as part of the agency’s Free Wi-Fi for All program.
Honasan vowed to strengthen DICT’s efforts to provide fast, cheap, if not free, and secure internet access to Filipinos, giving them access to data which they can transform into opportunities for progress and growth.
“It is important that we connect everybody to everybody else. Connectivity does not only unite the country, induce political unity and social cohesion, but also promote economic prosperity,” Honasan said.
Since Honasan assumed office last July, 308 live sites were added to the existing operational Wi-Fi sites.
As of Oct. 2, 2019, Free Wi-Fi is already operational at a total of 3,000 public places nationwide. Over 5 million users across 77 provinces and 768 localities have accessed the network. Of these 3,000 sites, 308 have become operational from the period of July 2019.
The program launch was conducted in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Zamboanga del Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Cebu; in the municipalities of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi, Dimasalang in Masbate, Torrijos and Mogpog in Marinduque, Caramoan in Camarines Sur, Loon in Bohol and Looc in Romblon.
The program was also launched in the cities of Iloilo and Butuan as well as in Quezon City and San Juan City.
