The Department of Information and Communications Technology has committed to connecting 11,964 unserved public schools in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) to the government’s Free WiFi program before the end of 2025.
DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda told the Senate on Monday, September 15, that the rollout will fulfill part of the agency’s mandate to provide universal and affordable connectivity.
“It is our principal objective to ensure universal and affordable connectivity. Reliable internet is not only about connectivity, it is also the key to education, as our teachers have pointed out today,” Aguda said at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.
“The implementation of the President’s directive – to ensure that 100 percent of public schools in the Philippines are connected before the end of 2025 – is ongoing, and we remain committed to carrying out the Free WiFi for All Program, which we know will help bridge the digital divide, especially for GIDA areas),” Aguda added.
Committee chair Senator Bam Aquino, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, said internet access has become a necessity in education, work, business, and daily life.
Data presented during the hearing showed that only 2,872 of the country’s 58,121 public schools have been connected to the program, leaving most dependent on private providers for connectivity.
This means that 11,964 schools, mostly in GIDA areas, remain without internet access.
The DICT has committed to bridging this gap and ensuring that 100 percent of public schools nationwide will be connected by the end of 2025.
Aquino also urged telecommunications companies to extend discounted rates to the Department of Education to help shoulder the cost of internet access in schools. Telecom representatives present expressed willingness to grant bulk discounts.
The committee report also flagged the need to review how the P18 billion allocated to the Free Public Internet Access Fund from 2018 to 2024 was spent, alongside clarifying DICT’s targets, coverage, and maintenance of free WiFi sites. (PNA)
