VISITORS going to Cebu City Hall or the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, or passersby, can now enjoy free internet connection as the Cebu City Government launched public Wi-Fi outdoor access points at the Plaza Sugbo grounds on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia accepted the Wi-Fi outdoor access points at Plaza Sugbo form the contractor during a turnover ceremony, a day after the Sinulog Festival and the 460th Fiesta Señor.
The newly installed public Wi-Fi provides visitors and users within Plaza Sugbo, located just across the City Hall Legislative Building, free internet access for up to two hours.
A female resident of Cebu City, who attended a novena mass for the Fiesta Señor last Thursday, Jan. 16, told SunStar Cebu that she had accidentally accessed the free public Wi-Fi before the official launch.
Initially, the internet connection was strong, but it weakened the next day as a large influx of devotees arrived for the Visperas, or the day before the Fiesta Señor, which was celebrated on Jan. 19.
The resident said the public Wi-Fi was helpful to individuals without data connection or experiencing connectivity problems with their service providers while going to City Hall or the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. It allowed them to connect to the internet for contacting relatives or friends.
On Dec. 2, 2024, the city’s free public Wi-Fi outdoor access point at Plaza Sugbo broke ground.
Garcia observed that many students use the public park as a practice area for dance presentations, among other activities, prompting him to install outdoor access points for free public Wi-Fi.
The project has a budget allocation of over P3.9 million, with four monopoles to be installed at Plaza Sugbo and three at Plaza Independencia.
The monopoles will provide access points that can accommodate over 1,000 users without interference due to the short wavelength at Plaza Sugbo.
With the launch of the free Wi-Fi, the Cebu City Government aims to enhance connectivity at one of Cebu City’s busiest landmarks.
Garcia said this initiative is part of their efforts to promote digital convenience for the public, adding that he wants to expand digital accessibility.
During the ceremony, Garcia was joined by Councilors Jaypee Labella and Francis Esparis, as well as representatives from the project’s contractor, Trends and Technologies Inc.
“I instructed Jaypee Labella to test it out because I want to ensure that even with many users, the connection won’t lag. This is a good move in the right direction,” Garcia said.
He said free internet access transformative impact of free internet access, noting that the City Government plans to install free public Wi-Fi in all 80 barangays of Cebu City.
“This will not be the last. We’re looking forward to providing free public Wi-Fi in more areas across the city,” Garcia said. / EHP