MABALACAT CITY -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in cooperation with the local government, has started its free internet project in this component city.
Upon the recommendation of the City Government, the DICT provided free Wi-Fi connection at the Mabalacat City Bus Terminal in the commercial district of Barangay Dau.
In line with the 100-day mark since Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II assumed as DICT chief, the agency simultaneously launched free internet connection in selected public places nationwide.
Areas provided with free Wi-Fi include plazas and parks; public libraries; public schools (elementary and high school) and state colleges/universities; rural health units and government hospitals; train stations, airports, and seaports; and national and local government offices (NGAs and LGUs).
The DICT has coordinated with the City Government for the roll-out of free internet services in the city.
With the launching of the project, one out of the 15 Wi-Fi sites was commissioned as of Wednesday, October 9.
Next in line are Mabalacat City College, resettlement parks, the city hall, and other public places.
Engineer Reynaldo T. Sy, DICT regional director, Luzon Cluster 2, thanked Mayor Crisostomo Garbo and the local government for supporting the project.
Garbo, in return, lauded the DICT and Honasan for selecting Mabalacat City as one of the launching venues of the government's free internet project.
Sy said the main objective of this project is to "connect people."
MIS head Carlo Aurelio, for his part, also thanked DICT for making Mabalacat as one of the pilot cities for its free Wi-Fi project.
The National Government has earmarked P1.3 billion for the free Wi-Fi project, which is targeting to put up 100,000 sites all over the country by 2022.