October 16 ------ Citing limitations in finances and human resources, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said that it may “take a while” before most of the Philippine population could enjoy internet connectivity.
“Medyo malayo-layo pa,” said DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy when asked about the status of nationwide internet connectivity during the Office of the Press Secretary press conference. “We have about 30 percent of our population that is not connected and considering we have more than 7,000 islands, it’s gonna take a while,” Uy said. Uy also noted that 100 percent connectivity may not be possible because it “doesn’t make any sense” to set up equipment and towers in areas with only a handful of people. “We’re identifying communities with a few thousand people that really has no connectivity,” he added.
Meanwhile, Uy also cited challenges and limitations — both on the financial and human resources. “Our budget has decreased a bit this year, so our hands are a little bit limited in being able to deploy to more islands and more mountainous communities,” Uy said in a mix of English and Filipino. However, Uy expressed hope that there will be an additional budget for DICT after he was informed that Congress may still increase the department’s budget. “Kung madagdagan nila yung budget, mas malawak yung aabutin ng ‘Broadband ng Masa’ project natin,” Uy said.
The “Broadband ng Masa Project” (BBMP) is part of DICT’s goal to bring free internet services to remote areas in the country. Uy shared that the BBMP has been rolled out islands of Sacol, Pangapuyan, and Tictabon. Free wifi is now available in Sacol Island with a population of 12,000. “It is the first time in the community to experience internet connectivity,” Uy said.
Before the BBMP, Uy said that the people of Sacol Island need to pay P200 for a boat ride to reach Zamboanga City — where there is an internet signal — just to attend classes or to speak with their relatives abroad. “For these families, this is the fulfillment of President BBM’s promise to bring technology and internet connectivity to them — a promised fulfilled within 100 days of the President’s term,” Uy said.
Source: mb.com.ph
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