Free Wi-Fi internet service initiative launched in Bataan

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan – In line with the government’s “Internet for All” campaign under the Philippine Digital Strategy of 2011-2016, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Information and Communications Technology Office (ICT Office), has embarked to provide Internet connectivity in public places across the Philippines.

This project aims to accelerate the government’s efforts in enhancing Internet accessibility for Filipinos to accelerate economic, social and educational opportunities and in reducing the growing Digital Divide under the overarching e-Filipino Program of the DOST-ICT Office.

The budget for this project as authorized in the 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is ₱1.408 billion, instead of the originally proposed ₱339 million in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

In line with this, selected Municipalities in the Province of Bataan are included in the 967 beneficiary areas of this Free Wi-Fi Internet Service Initiative. These are the municipalities of Abucay, Bagac, Morong, Pilar, Samal, and the City of Balanga.

As of this writing, Mr. Armando Rillera of the DOST-ICT Office is with Mr. Geoffrey Loyola, Provincial Management Information Systems Office Head and other stakeholders to discuss and identify potential areas of collaboration to ensure the smooth roll-out implementation of said project in the province.

The endeavor also eyes to provide Internet access to people across the country to enhance communication and stimulate socio-economic growth for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and it shall cover municipal plazas of selected municipalities of Class 3, 4, 5 and 6 and identified public spaces such as parks, libraries, hospitals, rural health units, public high schools, state universities and colleges, transportation terminals, local government units, national government agencies and other areas as provided for in the Project Terms of Reference.

Once fully deployed, the Project will serve 105,000 concurrent users with 256 kbps each, which is the lowest prevailing speed requirement for “broadband” service. A data volume based Fair Usage Policy shall also be implemented to promote an equitable distribution of the public service.