CEBU, Philippines — Free internet in barangays in Cebu City will be in place through the “Barangay Internet Access Points Ordinance” before the term of current officials ends by June 30, 2022, City Hall has assured.
Dante Arcilla, Jr. of the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) said they are now on the design process of the project.
“We are working on the design process in the mountain barangays nga wala gani cellphone signal. Mayor Mike wants the people to be connected. Gusto niya nga the design of our public Wi-Fi will be resilient against typhoons,”Arcilla said.
Arcilla is among those Mayor Michael Rama have tasked to implement the project together with the Management Information and Computer Services (MICS) and the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO).
The team is also coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which will provide the city with the bandwidth for the public Wi-Fi.
Arcilla said they are looking at providing each user 300 MB to 1 GB of data bandwidth per day to distribute internet data equally.
Wi-Fi spots will be installed in at least one busy area like the barangay hall or the public school.
The city has appropriated P100 million for the project, according to a report of the Public Information Office, with P30 million to be utilized during initial implementation.
“We are investing in the design process. We have been consulting IT experts for us to be more efficient and cost effective. So the P70 million can be used for other projects,” Arcilla said.
The city has established initial internet access points in Barangays Basak San Nicolas, Tisa, Calamba, Cogon Pardo, Duljo Fatima, Inayawan, Mambaling, Pasil, Punta Princessa, San Nicolas Proper, Sawang Calero, Sinsin, Suba, and Sudlon II.
Priority Project
The project is one the 21 priority programs Rama and Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros laid down when they assumed office when former Mayor Edgardo Labella passed away in late 2021.
The internet project takes into consideration the crucial need for information dissemination and connectivity especially during calamities and disasters.
It was Councilor Eduardo Rama who authored the “Barangay Internet Access Points Ordinance.”
The ordinance aims to promote easy access to information and services relevant to the delivery of public services through the use of wireless internet; facilitate the mediums of learning and information technology through cost-efficient use of the wireless internet; and facilitate competitiveness through information and communication technology among barangays.
Under the ordinance, each barangay is given the free hand to establish rules and regulations in availing of the free Wi-Fi with City Hall oversight.
Barangays are prohibited from collecting fees, directly or indirectly, in the implementation of the project.
Councilor Rama pushed for the project to help students and teachers navigate through online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
While several schools have returned to in-person classes or hybrid learning, many still continue with online education. – Sanden J. Anadia ,JMO (FREEMAN)