FREE INTERNET. Cabadbaran City Mayor Judy Amante (5th from right), together with Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera (5th from left) and DICT Mindanao Cluster 2 Director Evamay dela Rosa (4th from right) grace the launching of the Free Wi-Fi for All Project in Cabadbaran City on Tuesday ( Nov.12, 2019). (PNA photo by Alexander Lopez)
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte – Free internet connectivity can now be availed of by residents here with the launching of the Free Wi-Fi for All Project of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) on Tuesday.
Director Evamay dela Rosa of the DICT Mindanao Cluster 2 led the formal launching at the Cabadbaran City Hall together with Mayor Judy Amante, Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera, and Director Mary Rose Magsaysay who represented DICT Undersecretary Jose Arturo de Castro.
Dela Rosa said the launching was the first in Cabadbaran but they will be adding more sites in the area as the DICT rolls out the free Wi-Fi project.
She added that they are also targeting 212 sites in Agusan del Norte for free Wi-Fi services.
The free Wi-Fi program is anchored on the provisions of the Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places law signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on August 2, 2017.
Dela Rosa said the law institutionalizes the provision of internet connectivity free of charge in all public places nationwide.
The provision of free Wi-Fi aims to accelerate the government’s efforts to enhance internet access to all Filipinos to bolster economic, social, and educational opportunities, she added.
In her message, Mayor Amante expressed gratitude to DICT for providing the residents with free connectivity.
“This is not only for Facebook. Free Wi-Fi will help our people connect through the internet,” Amante said, adding that connectivity will also help spur the development of Cabadbaran City.
Amante said the city government will also provide free internet access in other areas such as parks and public terminals.
The city government has already allocated PHP1.5 million to fund the provision of free Wi-Fi in parks and public terminals this year.
“Right now we are working out for the provision of free Wi-Fi through our budget. We are talking with other providers so that we can properly implement the program,” Amante said.
Corvera also called on the people of Cabadbaran to utilize the free internet to support the programs and services of the city government.
Corvera said internet access helps the government make its transactions transparent to the people. (PNA)
