UNDP, DICT activates free WiFi for 220 public HEIs

MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have activated 1,000 free WiFi access points across 220 public higher education institutions (HEIs) nationwide.

DICT Acting Secretary Manny Caintic and UNDP Philippines resident representative Selva Ramachandran marked the milestone during the activation of the 1,000th access point at the Bulacan Polytechnic College-San Jose Del Monte Campus on Thursday.

Representatives from the Nueva Vizcaya State University, which is among the latest HEIs to benefit from the program, also participated virtually in the activity.

“Internet access made readily available by the DICT-UNDP partnership allows students and teachers to have a flexible platform for teaching and learning, especially now that blended online and in-person learning is the new norm,” Ramachandran said.

“Our commitment to provide inclusive access to free internet services in public spaces and government offices to aid learning and to augment the government’s services remains stronger than ever,” he added.

Ramachandran said they plan to put up 300 more WiFi access points in HEIs under this initiative, which began last October.

Caintic welcomed the successful roll out of the free WiFi initiative, which was implemented in partnership with PLDT.

“Among the key objectives of the Free WiFi project is to contribute to the progress of several SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). That’s why it was strategic that we partnered with UNDP because it’s clear to them, which of the goals we are targeting,” he added.

PLDT first vice president Joseph Ian Gendrano conveyed the telco’s gratitude for being selected to partner with UNDP.

“We’re honored to have been given the opportunity to serve and provide public WiFi access to 220 higher education institutions across the country from Abra to Zamboanga. Our task is even made more meaningful as some of the HEIs serve as vaccination sites for our countrymen,” he said.

According to UNDP, the activation of free WiFi access points in public HEIs is part of its commitment to broaden public access to free internet services and to help provide access to information and basic public services, with special focus on education and health.

It is also in line with the DICT and UNDP’s joint commitment to support communities as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide digital services and infrastructure to help improve equitable and inclusive access to basic services.

The initiative is part of the DICT-UNDP Connectivity, Capability and Resiliency through Free WiFi for All project, which supports the implementation of the Free WiFi for All National Program under Republic Act No. 10929.