GOVERNMENT is planning to double the number of free Wi-Fi sites in the country this year under the “Broadband ng Masa” program to support the digitization of local government units (LGUs) in the country, Communications Technology Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. said yesterday.
Almirol, in a press briefing in Malacañang, said there are over 25,000 free Wi-Fi sites around the country as of end 2023.
“I think planong doblehin iyong number ng free Wi-Fi especially sa mga LGUs na nangangailangan talaga ng connectivity para ma-implement din po itong tinatawag na eLGU (electronic local government unit),” he said.
He said part of the eLGU program is not just to digitize the processes and transactions of local governments but also to ensure internet connectivity.
“Kailangan magsasabay siya para parallel iyong effort (it should be done at the same time so the effort is parallel), ” he added.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., in the same briefing, said that as of end of December 2023, a total of 921 LGUs or 60 percent of the total local governments in the country are already compliant with the digitalization or automation of services.
Of this figure, 799 LGUs use the free eLGU system provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) while 122 LGUs developed and used their own application or digitize systems.
Abalos said the digitalization has resulted in the streamlining or simplifying of the processing of business licenses, occupancy permits, and other permits issued by LGUs.
He said some LGUs have also already started accepting online applications and registrations as well as payment of taxes and other fees which is implemented under the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) program.
He said the EODB had quadrupled the collected local business taxes, fees and charges to P208 billion in 2022 from P50 billion in 2018 while the registered businesses increased to 4.4 million from 1.5 million during the same period.
