THE newly-signed law establishing free internet access program in public places is seen to make socioeconomic growth in Negros Occidental more inclusive, a local official of the Department Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.
President Rodrigo Duterte last week signed Republic Act 10929, or the "Free Internet Access in Public Places Act" mainly aimed at promoting knowledge-building among citizens and enable them to participate in the evolving information and communication age.
Engineer Romeo Tome, team lead of DICT-Negros Occidental, on Sunday, August 6, told SunStar Bacolod that the law will surely enhance communication vital in boosting socioeconomic growth of the province.
Tome said better internet access will also boost the e-government portal by bringing closer various government services to the people like processing of clearances and other documents with various agencies.
“The law provides expanded free internet access up to the barangay level thus, development is more inclusive as it benefits more people in the community," he said.
Under the law, free internet is provided at access points such as national and local government offices, public basic education institutions, state universities and colleges, technology institutions, public hospitals, health centers, rural health units, public parks, plazas, libraries, barangay reading centers, public airports and seaports, and public transport terminals.
Prior to the signing of the law, the DICT has already been implementing the free WiFi access project.
The National Government raised the budget from P1.6 billion to P3 billion to cover all first to sixth class municipalities from the initial plan for third to sixth class municipalities only.
Of the 19 municipalities in the province, the DICT-Negros Occidental has already installed connections in four sites in three localities.
Tome said they conducted the final testing of equipment in Caningay National High School and rural health unit in Candoni, municipal hall of Moises Padilla, and Antipolo National High School in Pontevedra last week.
“We are now scheduled to boost the connections in these areas," Tome said, adding that five more sites are up for installation this year.
The free WiFi project started in 2016. The implementation, however, was delayed due to several factors like processing of permits and pole attachment of fiber optics, among others.
Tome said the newly-signed law will “overlap” with the previous free WiFi project. Meaning, from only 19 municipalities, free internet connections will also be provided to public access points in 13 cities in the province.
From 251 kilobits per second, the law provides for a faster internet speed of two megabits per second, he added.
“The DICT as the implementing agency has yet to wait for the implementing rules and regulations for the full implementation of the law," Tome said, reiterating that the agency’s primary thrusts include internet for all as well as ICT industry and policy development, e-government, and cyber security.