THE Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) and its internet partner, Converge, continue their expansion project in Baguio City.
Beneco Consumer Welfare Offices Eric De Guzman said the cooperative started its internet connection at the southern portion of the city and has now reached Barangays Pacdal and Gibraltar.
"We are happy to inform our member consumers that at present, we have now installed and actually activated 500 applications for internet connection and they have shown satisfaction with the services we are providing them," De Guzman said.
Beneco was earlier tapped by the government to serve as an internet service provider in the Cordillera after entering into a business partnership with broadband provider Converge ICT, which allows the broadband firm to install communication facilities on the poles owned by the electric cooperative through a memorandum of agreement signed in August last year.
"If you are located along Marcos Highway, Green Valley, Balacbac, Suello Village, Kitma, Crystal Cave, Bakakeng Central and Norte, BGH, Camp 8, Balsigan, Camp 7 Dagsian, Hillside, including Loakan, these areas are now connected and are ready for activation," De Guzman added.
Beneco is the first electric cooperative to partner with an internet service provider.
The power distributor is also set to sign a final agreement with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) after the cooperative has finished rolling out fiber-optic cables for internet connection.
The Beneco-DICT internet project agreement will initially provide connectivity to government institutions, such as the City Government and barangay halls of Baguio, municipal government building of La Trinidad, Provincial Capitol of Benguet, and police stations of Baguio and La Trinidad to further enhance their services to the people.