Senator Win Gatchalian is calling for a more efficient rollout of the government’s FREE WIFI program, emphasizing the need to expand internet access in public schools and other critical areas across the country. Gatchalian raised concerns about the slow progress of the program during a budget hearing for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and its attached agencies earlier this month.
During the session, Gatchalian questioned DICT officials about the implementation of the FREE WIFI initiative, which initially aimed to cover 125,000 public spaces. However, as of the latest data, the program has reached only 6,700 locations, providing around 13,000 access points nationwide. DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy explained that achieving the original goal would require a massive budget of PHP58 billion annually, making it financially unsustainable under the current setup.
To address these challenges, DICT is exploring partnerships with telecommunication companies. The strategy involves identifying sites for new cell towers, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). The government would support these projects by subsidizing potential losses, including covering subscription fees, to incentivize private companies. This plan could involve distributing SIM cards and subsidizing mobile data for up to two years to ensure broader access, especially in underserved areas. The Philippines still needs to build 60,000 cell towers to improve overall connectivity.
The DICT estimates that an initial PHP5 billion is required to fund the first phase of this expanded FREE WIFI program, which would prioritize public schools and 300 barangays in GIDAs. However, this budget was not included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress.
Gatchalian expressed his support for the DICT’s efforts but requested a clear timeline and detailed targets. “Of course, we want to help roll out the free wi-fi program. I also chair the Basic Education Committee and one of the things that the committee and Secretary Sonny Angara are pushing very hard is Education Technology or EdTech. And of course, the crucial element of edtech is connectivity,” the senator said.
The senator also highlighted his proposed Digital Transformation in Basic Education Act (Senate Bill No. 383), which aims to enhance the integration of information and communications technology (ICT) in education and streamline the Department of Education’s (DepEd) operations digitally. This initiative aligns with his advocacy for improved internet connectivity in public schools nationwide.