CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has partnered with the Office of the Cagayan de Oro City Second District, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, to expand the reach of free Wi-Fi connections for all and establish the Level 2 Digital Transformation Center (DTC) in the city’s second district.
With the Marcos administration focusing on ICT and harnessing its transformative power as part of its national agenda, DICT has been implementing the "Broadband ng Masa Program," which aims to accelerate the roll-out of free and reliable broadband connectivity by providing necessary interventions and activating free Wi-Fi for all sites in public places, including educational institutions and health centers.
“It pleases me to note that as of the end of 2023, 99 free Wi-Fi sites across 59 locations in Cagayan de Oro City have already been activated. We shall expand the coverage of our free Wi-Fi internet to 30 more public places in the city’s 2nd District within the year, opening up a world of opportunities to their residents and businesses alike,” DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said.
Among the 59 locations, 53 are located in the second district area of Cagayan de Oro City across 19 locations, particularly in public elementary and high school sites.
The partnership between DICT and Office of Rep. Rodriguez sought a significant increase in the number of free Wi-Fi access point (AP) sites in his district jurisdiction. From eight AP sites across eight locations by the beginning of the previous year (2023), it had become 63 AP sites across 33 locations by the end of 2023.
With the expansion of the program this year, DICT will place another 30 additional locations in the second district, which comprises 12 barangay halls and 18 public schools. Rodriguez commits to further expanding the free Wi-Fi program of the DICT.
“Next year, we will expand to the other barangays of our district, so that all 56 barangays in Cagayan de Oro will have free Wi-Fi. So that all the residents can benefit from free Wi-Fi,” Rodriguez said.
Establishing Digital Transformation Center
Aside from the expansion of the area of free Wi-Fi, the first Level II DTC in Cagayan de Oro City will be established within the second district.
The DTC is a national inclusion initiative of DICT and aims to establish self-sustaining centers capable of providing ICT-enabling services and opportunities for ICT skills development to unserved and underserved communities, thus boosting socio-economic development in the area. It also acts as a conduit for the efficient delivery of government and other services and a powerful tool for empowerment and participation in the development of unserved and underserved communities.
“As the first Level 2 DTC in the city, the hub will be able to provide access to basic online training via live stream or through Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs. The DTC shall serve as an edifice for empowerment, providing residents access to computers and other ICT tools as well as equipping learners with skills to participate more fully in a globally competitive economy,” Uy said.
With the establishment of reliable internet connectivity and the upskilling of the city's workforce, DICT is confident that it will complement its ICT industry development measures, such as Digital Cities 2025 and the Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program.
“This concerted effort is crucial in driving economic growth and further cementing Cagayan de Oro’s standing as the premiere ICT investment hub in Northern Mindanao,” Uy added.
The secretary further urges both the public and local government units to continue to work together towards building a more progressive, dynamic, and digitally connected future where every Filipino thrives. (JAKA/PIA-10)
