CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Laguna continues to provide free wi-fi for public access to enhance internet connectivity, particularly in underserved and remote areas, with the aim of digital inclusion by giving access to the internet.
During the Philippine Information Agency’s Usapang PIA radio program, DICT Laguna engineer Jeudiel Maunahan said that the Free WiFi program of the department aims to reach remote areas in the province and bridge the digital divide by ensuring reliable and fast access to the internet.
“As of this year, we have just finished implementing four active sites for VSAT GIGA with our partners from the United Nations Development Program where we gave wi-fi access to Famy, Pangil, Majayjay, and Rizal,” he said.
Maunahan adds that having an internet connection in remote areas will foster opportunities for education, economic growth, improved means of communication, and equitable access to digital resources for all.
To ensure the sustainability and safety of the Free WiFi program, the DICT has established a connected Network Operations Center (NOC) responsible for monitoring all activities on online sites, providing real-time oversight and management of the network.
“To prevent outsiders from accessing data, we also make sure that the equipment we use is VPN-compatible. We also check the access points, where we isolate the person connected to the Wi-Fi so that they cannot be accessed by other people connected on the same Wi-Fi network, so each of them has a private internet use of their own,” Maunahan explained.
Adding to the department’s efforts, they also conduct cyberspace webinars which aim to educate the public on various aspects of internet use, empowering users with the knowledge and skills needed to make the most of the digital world safely and effectively.
In the province of Laguna, every local government unit has an ICT site coordinator who oversees the deployment and maintenance of ICT infrastructure, including the Free WiFi sites within their respective municipalities to whom the DICT communicates.
“We already have a means of communication with each municipality or city in Laguna, including the barangay level. Their own ICT site coordinators who oversee ICT-related operations. They work with us so that our programs can be implemented more smoothly with their assistance,” he stated.
Maunahan added: “In every place, every barangay, and every school they are the ones who maintain and organize DICT programs. We receive a validation report about the programs we conduct in their areas with the assistance of their ICT coordinators.”
The National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Month is celebrated annually every June by the virtue of Proclamation No. 1521, s. 2008, where it states the need to recognize ICT as one of the drivers for economic growth. (AM/PIA-4A)
Usapang PIA is a weekly radio program hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Laguna. It is broadcasted every Friday, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am on DZJV 1458 kHz Radyo Calabarzon and streamed live on the Philippine Information Agency CALABARZON and PIA Laguna Facebook pages.
