PBBM orders DICT:  Ensure available, affordable internet connectivity in the countryside

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched its "Free WiFi For All" program in Tawi-Tawi, expanding digital connectivity to underserved communities in the southern Philippines.

The initiative, part of the DICT's Digital Bayanihan Roadshow, follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the DICT and the Bangsamoro Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) at Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College in Bongao.

The agreement aims to enhance digital connectivity across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), particularly in remote areas that have lacked internet access for decades.

DICT officials said the collaboration is a crucial step toward achieving inclusive, accessible and faster internet for all Filipinos, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s mandate for digital transformation and his administration's goal of advancing the country through technology.

DICT Undersecretary Paul Joseph Mercado, speaking on behalf of Secretary Henry Aguda, stressed the agency's commitment to driving development through technology and the "Digital Bayanihan" principle, which seeks to ensure no individual or region is left behind.

"Without connectivity, technologies won't work properly," Mercado said. "That is why our agency's mission is clear: to bring connectivity to every corner of the nation."

BARMM Transport Minister Paisalin Tago, on the other hand, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative on the daily lives of Tawi-Tawi residents.

"Today is not just the signing of a document — it is the sealing of a shared vision," Tago said. "A vision where the digital future reaches every corner of our region. It is about opening new doors for education, economic development, public service delivery, and inclusive governance."

DICT Assistant Secretary Philip Varilla noted that the free Wi-Fi initiative has already been implemented in parts of Basilan and Sulu and is now expanding to Tawi-Tawi.

He also disclosed that the DICT is coordinating with Japan to develop a wireless backbone network from Zamboanga to Tawi-Tawi to strengthen the country's broadband infrastructure.

The "Free WiFi For All" program is part of the DICT's broader Digital Bayanihan project, which includes the Bayanihan SIM Project and the National Broadband Program, all spearheaded by the president to promote digital inclusivity.

These efforts are central to the DICT's overarching goal of ensuring an inclusive digital transformation for the Philippines, regardless of location, socio-economic status or religion.