It’s very evident that the Department of Information and Communications Technology is wasting no time and is starting to really flex its muscles despite being formed a couple of months ago. They have been tasked to push for more ICT solutions in the country and it’s now apparent that one of the first things on their mind will be providing internet access to the masses free of charge.

Senator Ralph Recto has just issued a statement saying that a serious chunk of change, P1.78 Billion to be exact, was proposed to be set aside from the DICT’s 2017 budget to bring Free Wi-Fi to 44 key cities and 1,264 towns granting them access to broadband internet access that include: 763 hotspots in Luzon (186 sites within Metro Manila), 180 sites in Visayas, and 93 sites in Mindanao; all based upon a report submitted to Senator Recto by the DOST.

This serious investment in our nation’s connectivity comes on the heels of President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation address where he had ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology to develop a national broadband plan and promised the Filipino people fast and free Wi-Fi in most public areas.

Source: Rappler