Palace wants P1.7 B for new free WiFi spots, Senate to check if it meets rollout plan
The newly-signed Free Internet Access in Public Places Act has a proposed budget of P1.74 billion next year, for the rollout of 5,308 new WiFi hotspots, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said.
On top of said funding is a proposed P1.2 billion to lay the groundwork for a national broadband system, Recto added.
Both allocations are in the proposed 2018 budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) of P6.9 billion, almost double from this year’s P3.6 billion, the senator pointed out.
As if to stress the importance of these programs, President Duterte mentioned these in his 37-page “Budget Message” to Congress for fiscal year 2018, Recto said.
Recto authored and sponsored the law creating the DICT. He also successfully sponsored in 2014 the funding of the first WiFi program, which is now institutionalized under RA 10929, a law based largely on Recto bill’s which was the first to be filed in Congress.
Recto said the enactment RA 10929 creates a charter for a program, ensuring its sustained implementation.
The law mandates free internet access in all national and local government offices; public schools, including state colleges and universities; public hospitals and health centers; public parks, plazas, and libraries; and airports, seaports, and transport terminals.
By the end of the year, it is projected that 13,024 sites covered by 18 “Points of Presence” in 1,489 towns and 145 under the Free Public Wi-Fi Project will be up and running.
Overall, the project aims to roll out 23,631 sites by 2018, expanding it four-fold to 100,349 by 2026.
The multiyear rollout program targets for coverage 1,880 public elementary schools, 2,688 public high schools, and 682 state and local public college campuses this year and in 2018.
“We will double check if work on these targets is sufficiently funded in next year’s budget,” Recto said.
He explained that the law signed by President Duterte does not only make internet services available to all Filipinos, “but will make sure that broadband services are faster and more efficient.”
The law benchmarks minimum internet speed, sets standards for service, Recto said.
“There are provisions that will improve internet speed, improve broadband services, slash the red tape and unfair competition practices that retard ICT growth,” he said.
“Permitting problems encountered by DICT contractors and telcos in putting up facilities are also addressed in the measure,” he added.
RELATED ARTICLES:
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30 MAY 2017: Congress approved bill making public WiFi not only free but fast
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13 MAR 2017: Recto: Free public Wi-Fi means faster internet for all Pinoys
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13 MAR 2017:‘If Internet Access is a Human Right, WiFi is a Basic Public Service’
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13 MAR 2017: To secure funding, answer security questions, broadband project must be in ‘18 budget
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14 DEC 2016: Co-Sponsorship Speech: Free WiFI is ‘Liberation Technology’ Which Must Prod Urgent Telecom Reforms
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03 SEP 2016: Free public W-Fi to get P1.8 B funding in 2017 – Recto
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28 JUN 2016: Keynote Speech: From fighting crime to cutting red tape, how DICT can help, National ICT Summit 2016, Novotel Hotel, Quezon City, 28 June 2016
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24 May 2016: Recto: DICT to make Phl an electronic republic
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02 MAY 2016: Recto to DOST: Free public Wi-Fi in 12 regions must begin next month
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17 APR 2016: Recto: 12 regions to get free public Wi-Fi by June
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26 JUL 2015 Recto: Prioritize free Wi-Fi in public hospitals, airports, MRT
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21 MAR 2015: DOST to roll out hotspots in 967 towns, NCR, 14 cities
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16 MAR 2015: Sponsorship Speech: Future proofing our country: Why DICT is an app we need
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24 FEB 2015: Keynote Speech: The Importance of a Department of Information and Communications Technology, First General Membership Meeting – Infocomm Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP)
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21 NOV 2014: Senate OKs funding for 51,000 free Wi-Fi spots
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28 MAY 2014: Faster internet speed pressed
SENATE BILLS/AUTHORED LAWS
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04 JUL 2016: Senate Bill No. 269: Bilis Konek Act of 2016
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21 JUL 2016: Senate Bill No. 816: Free Public Wi-Fi Act of 2016
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21 JUL 2016> Senate Bill No. 855: ICT in Education Act of 2016
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23 MAY 2016: Republic Act No. 10844: Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Act of 2015