The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released ₱3 billion to boost internet connectivity nationwide, with half of the funds earmarked for public schools in remote and underserved areas.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DBM said ₱1.5 billion will support the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Connectivity Enhancement Program for E-Learning, which aims to provide free Wi-Fi access in last-mile and far-flung schools. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will assist in implementing the program.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the initiative seeks to ease the financial and logistical burdens faced by students and teachers who struggle to access stable internet connections.
“Once free internet access is fully implemented in last-mile schools and far-flung areas, our students and teachers will no longer have to spend much or travel far just to get Wi-Fi access. We want every young Filipino—whether in the city or in the farthest island—to have equal access to quality education,” Pangandaman said.
According to the DBM, a total of 8,253 public schools are expected to benefit from the ₱1.5 billion allocation for the DepEd.
Another ₱1.5 billion will fund the DICT’s Free Public Internet Access Program, which aims to expand free Wi-Fi coverage in public places such as plazas, transport terminals, and government facilities.
Both the DICT and DepEd are expected to sign a memorandum of agreement to ensure coordinated implementation of their respective programs.
The Philippines continues to face some of the slowest and costliest internet service in Southeast Asia. A 2024 World Bank study showed the country has the most expensive internet rates in the region while lagging behind Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei in speed.
The recently enacted Konektadong Pinoy Act, which lapsed into law in August, seeks to address these issues by encouraging new internet service providers to enter the market and increase competition.
