Daily Tribune
Before the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) starts an overhaul of the Free Wi-Fi Program by addressing inefficiencies in the current setup, Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy would do well to probe the fiasco that stalled the project involving the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
DICT’s initial review indicated that the project required a reevaluation and restructuring for a more cost-effective approach.
The government has an annual budget of P6.5 billion to cover internet access in over 7,000 locations.
“There are more cost-effective alternatives if we enter into long-term agreements,” Dy said.
The program, previously known as “Pipol Konek,” aimed to provide free internet access across public spaces nationwide.
UNDP’s involvement was intended to accelerate its rollout, but it became entangled in the misdeals among proponents of the program. The program struggled with delays and failed to meet its rollout targets.
For instance, by May 2021 only 882 of the planned 6,000 WiFi sites under the DICT-UNDP partnership were completed despite a target of 3,000 sites by December 2020.
The shortfall was significant, with Phase 2 of the project lagging behind schedule. The Commission on Audit (CoA) flagged the project for its “very slow implementation.”
The partnership with UNDP introduced complexities that hindered progress. The UNDP subcontracted to Speedcast, an Australia-based company.
Speedcast faced allegations of technical smuggling and bribery of Bureau of Customs officials, further complicating the project.
CoA criticized the financial arrangement with UNDP, noting the DICT had transferred approximately P1.26 billion (92 percent of the project’s P1.36-billion cost) to UNDP, effectively relinquishing control.
The agreement vested ownership of equipment and infrastructure in UNDP, making Pipol Konek appear to be a UNDP project rather than a DICT-led initiative.
In effect, the government essentially donated funds without retaining oversight, a situation exacerbated by UNDP’s authority to request additional funding, which could strain unappropriated national resources.
The program faced practical hurdles, such as local government units requesting changes to installation sites, which should have been resolved by UNDP through prior site surveys.
The 2020 pandemic lockdowns further slowed its progress, but the lack of adaptability and poor planning were evident even before these external factors happened. By April 2021, only 8,453 sites were installed nationwide against a target of 120,000 by year-end, underscoring operational inefficiencies.
Speedcast’s alleged undervaluation of telecommunications equipment shipments and bribery attempts, reported in 2020, tarnished the project’s integrity. Although UNDP terminated Speedcast’s contract in May 2021 and returned P283.99 million in unused funds to DICT, the damage to the project’s timeline and credibility was significant.
The UNDP’s initial failure to thoroughly vet or oversee Speedcast contributed to these setbacks.
UNDP was brought into the Pipol Konek program in September 2018 through a Memorandum of Agreement with the DICT to expedite the deployment of 6,000 WiFi hotspots, particularly in remote and disadvantaged areas.
Its role included oversight of site network analysis, monitoring, and technical training. However, its involvement contributed to the program’s failures.
UNDP’s decision to subcontract to Speedcast should be the primary subject of the probe since it led to delays and disputes.
In May 2021, the DICT and UNDP mutually agreed to end Speedcast’s involvement, and UNDP returned unused funds. However, this came after years of underperformance, with only 882 sites completed under the partnership at that point.
A motorcycle rider nearly had a dangerous brush with the security convoy of a VIP traversing a busy road in Metro Manila when he accidentally drove near the group.
The man, who turned out to be an off-duty policeman, was on his motorcycle wearing a type-B police uniform and was signaled by the VIP’s escorts to keep his distance.
But the rider ignored the signal and remained within the perimeter of the convoy. This irritated the security detail that tagged him as a threat.
Some of the security detail started to draw their guns in preparation of a possible encounter with the rider, if not for the immediate intervention of their team leader who confronted the rider.
In a low voice the security group’s commander asked the rider for his identification but he retorted that he was a policeman.
The security head then identified himself as a ranking police officer which prompted the cop to salute him and ask for forgiveness for ignoring the signal to yield.
Since he was also a law enforcer, the close-in security of the VIP, who was also a ranking official, told the security head to call the superior of the rider to report his infraction. The lesson here is that road rules should not be dependent on a badge that could be waved around.
