Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored the importance of providing internet connectivity in all public schools to improve the learning outcomes of Filipino learners.

That is why the Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to further accelerate internet access in all public schools by the end of 2025.

This follows the launch of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Phases 2 and 3 on 7 July in Leyte, led by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

The NFB expansion delivers 31 new connection points across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, enhancing bandwidth and access in provinces and government offices, including public schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. The initiative is expected to benefit over 600 government sites and nearly 17 million Filipinos, according to President Marcos.

For DepEd, the NFB is a game-changer. With nearly 47,000 schools under its wing—many still unserved or underserved—the fiber backbone will power the Department’s Digital Bayanihan Project, jointly implemented with DICT to reach last-mile schools.

In Bay-ang National High School in Ajuy, Iloilo, the changes are already visible. Previously categorized as a “dead spot,” the school now enjoys free public Wi-Fi through the project. For the first time, teachers can submit reports from within school grounds, conduct ICT classes, and access online learning resources.

The Digital Bayanihan Project is part of a broader campaign by DepEd and DICT to roll out digital infrastructure across the archipelago. In the short term, the Bayanihan SIM Program is helping to address mobile connectivity needs. Over 113,000 learners, 3,800 teachers, and 357 public schools have been identified to receive free SIM cards with data connection. The initial rollout began on June 27 in Bulacan, Zambales, and Quezon.

Meanwhile, the PPP for School Infrastructure Project for Digitalization (PSIP Connect) will chart the delivery of devices, solar-powered solutions, and satellite internet packages to underserved schools starting in the fourth quarter of 2026.

With the rollout of the National Fiber Backbone and complementary DepEd programs underway, the Marcos administration is laying the groundwork for an inclusive, tech-enabled learning environment where every learner and teacher, regardless of geography, is connected to opportunity.