MANILA, Philippines - The government is spending a total of P3 billion for its free Internet project to interconnect the country ahead of the May 9, 2016 combined presidential, congressional and local elections.
“We have a P1.4-billion budget this year and P1.6 billion next year for the free public Wi-Fi program,” Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo told the House appropriations committee chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab yesterday.
He said his department hopes to install 7,118 Wi-Fi sites in 967 towns and 43 cities throughout the country.
These areas include Metro Manila, Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban, Dagupan, Calbayog and Legazpi, he said.
Responding to questions raised by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Montejo said part of the funds this year and next year would be used to improve Wi-Fi connection and speed.
Rodriguez said it is important for remote towns and communities to be reached by the government’s free Internet service this year and early next year before the May elections.
“With free Wi-Fi, people can help safeguard the integrity of the electoral exercise by reporting or calling attention to irregularities using their mobile phones and similar devices,” he said.
He said election officers could use the free Internet service for their precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to transmit voting results if private mobile phone service operators could not provide reliable connection.
He pointed out that the free Wi-Fi project would empower people in the provinces in that they could use the Internet to do business, educate themselves or obtain information on anything.
“The possibilities for improving their lives are limitless,” he stressed.
Montejo also said his department is working closely with relevant agencies to cushion the effects of an extended El Niño and undertake disaster risk mitigation measures.
“For instance, we are cooperating with the Department of Agriculture on cloud seeding to induce rain,” he said.
He added that El Niño would definitely have an impact on the country’s food and agricultural production.
As for weather and disaster risk forecasting, the DOST chief said five more Doppler radars would be added next year to the present 13.
The five will be located in Zamboanga del Norte, Palawan (Busuanga town), Bohol, Camarines Norte and Pangasinan.