DAVAO CITY (PIA) – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is taking significant strides to close the digital gap in the Davao Region by establishing digital transformation centers and expanding free WiFi access, particularly in underserved and remote communities.
“Before nagkaroon tayo ng malawak na digital divide [because] hindi pa natin na-install yung free WiFi [and] hindi pa tayo naka-establish ng mga Tech4Ed centers. [However], right now, marami na tayong centers na nag accommodate ng mga training para sa mga estudyante, constituents na walang device o walang connectivity… Mayroon din tayong free wifi sites na na-establish, especially doon sa mga GIDA sites,” DICT-XI technical operations division chief Engr. Eduardo Tuquib shared during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on November 19.
(Before, we had a vast digital divide because we hadn’t yet installed free WiFi and established Tech4ed centers. However, right now, we have many centers that can accommodate training for students and constituents who don’t have devices or don’t have connectivity. We also have free WiFi sites that have been established, especially in the GIDA sites)
Tuquib underscored the pivotal role these initiatives have played in empowering communities and bridging the digital gap by providing access to essential technologies, thereby making these projects among the key priorities under the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) of the agency.
Tuquib explained that digital transformation centers, commonly referred to as Tech4Ed centers, serve as ICT hubs where the public can access a range of ICT-related services, including training programs, co-working spaces, and internet connectivity.
In the Davao region, Jose Benjamin Valencia II, DICT-XI Free WiFi and National Broadband Project focal person, reported that there are currently a total of 93 Tech4Ed sites operating across various municipalities in the region and have been facilitating around 56 training sessions to date.
Meanwhile, the agency’s free WiFi program has been serving not only public places in urban areas but also GIDAs in the region.
Valencia said they have established around 235 free WiFi sites across the region so far, all of which are currently operational.
Of these active sites, 130 are in public places like public schools, plazas and parks, hospitals and RHUs, public libraries, government offices, ports, among others.
Also, around 55 sites are in GIDAs, specifically in barangay halls or schools.
“May iba dito on renewal yung procurement namin kasi nagstart na yung services and then patapos na, and then we are processing the renewal of the services kasi it is a managed service kasi it’s through private partner, yung mga telco sila nag-implement and DICT is getting their services to provide free public WiFi,” Valencia shared.
(Some of these sites are on the renewal of the procurement because we started the services, and then they are ending. We are processing the renewal of the services because it is a managed service; it’s through a private partner, the telcos implemented it, and DICT is getting their services to provide free public WiFi.)
Moreover, Valencia said around 243 free WiFi sites are currently undergoing procurement. Of these, 196 are planned to be established in municipalities, 20 in state universities and colleges, and 27 are allotted for the municipalities in Davao Oriental.
“Para sa mga state universities and colleges recently lang nag-conduct kami ng procurement activities, just this week lang; it will be siguro kung ma-complete yung procurement maybe we’ll be implementing it early 2025 para completo mga state universities and colleges,” Valencia explained.
(For state universities and colleges, we recently conducted procurement activities, just this week. Once the procurement is completed, maybe we’ll be implementing it in early 2025 to complete the state universities and colleges.) (clc/ASO/PIA XI)
