Cebu City pilot area for Internet project

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City is one of 967 beneficiary areas of a P1.4 billion project for Free Wi-Fi Internet Access under the Department of Science and Technology- Information and Communications Technology Office.

The project is in line with the “Internet For All” thrust under the Philippine Digital Strategy 2011-2016.

The budget for the project authorized in the 2015 General Appropriations Act is P1.408 billion, instead of the P339 million proposed originally in the National Expenditure Program.

“As an LGU (local government unit) that provides citizen-oriented services, Cebu City, Cebu is one of the 947 beneficiary areas of this Free Wi-Fi Internet Service Initiative,” said DOST Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre in his October 6 letter to Mayor Michael Rama.

City Hall received the letter on October 29.

“The project aims to provide Internet access to people across the country to enhance communication and stimulate socio-economic growth for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Casambre said.

Casambre asked the city government to allow DOST-ICT to inspect areas in the city where work can be undertaken.

City Administrator Dr. Lucelle Mercado said officials of the agency will inspect the areas within the month. Mercado said implementation of the project will be at no cost to the city government, but the city would assist the national government in the electricity and other facilities to ensure the security of the equipment.

Engr. Conrado Ordesta III, chief of the city's Management Information and Computer Services, said the initial target areas are the City Hall and Plaza Sugbo, which is in front of the City Hall’s legislative building.

Ordesta, however, said that other areas like public places will be inspected for possible installation of Wi-Fi equipment.

Casambre said the project covers municipal plazas of selected municipalities of Class 3, 4, 5, and six and identified public spaces such as parks, libraries, hospitals, rural health units, public high schools, state universities and colleges, transportation terminals, local government units, national government agencies and other areas as provided for in the Project Terms of Reference.  (FREEMAN)