Bridging the Digital Divide

 November 27 – 29, 2019

        A welcome dinner was served on November 27, 2019 to the participants coming from eleven (11) project beneficiaries – the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, Palawan, Pampanga, Benguet, Batangas, Quezon, Albay, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, CLGU Davao City, with regional and provincial representatives from DICT.

        Registration started on the following day, November 28, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. All eleven (11) provinces were represented. Also in attendance were five (5) municipal mayors from Mindanao. ICT equipment such as satellite disk, solar panel and hubs were displayed for public viewing at the Palawan function hall, courtesy of Speedcast, the project contractor.

        In his welcome message, UNDP Resident Representative Titon Mitra said that with the introduction of new technology, the free wi-fi project targets to cater at least 3,084 public wi-fi hotspots during its first phase. He also stressed the importance of the project in bridging the growing digital divide in the unserved and underserved communities in the country.

        DICT Undersecretary for Operations, Eliseo M. Rio Jr., emphasized the goal of the project in providing free internet access to remote places towards a more informed ICT-empowered Filipinos so that economic, social and educational opportunities will be bolstered.

        Andrew Parker, Senior Adviser/Economist of UNDP said that the Free Wi-fi for All project shall contribute to the on-going campaign of the United Nations for rapid progress on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2019 – 2023) focusing on quality education, gender equality, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities and partnership for the Goals. He said that UNDP is now shifting from being a traditional donor, signaling a break from the past of mere funding into financing SDG pilot projects focusing on the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas to ensure the principle of “leave no one behind” can be achieved.He also said that the free-wifi project is one example of providing platforms for integration, the practice of working together from the national government to the provincial, municipal and barangay levels, the private sector and the community, which he dubbed as “integration in practice”.

        DICT Program Manager Eric Toledo presented the status of DICT-UNDP Free Wi-Fi for All Project. In his powerpoint presentation, he said that the free wifi started as a program, back then on 2015 that intends to provide free wifi connectivity to income class 4 to 6 municipalities. He added that the free wifi program become institutionalized and made into a project, later known as the Free Wifi for all Project, to include now the key cities, first and second class municipalities. Toledo cited the enactment of Republic Act No. 10929, otherwise known as the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act of 2017, signed into law on August 2, 2017 which mandates the DICT as the lead implementing agency that will oversee its effective and efficient implementation. He said that RA 10929 institutionalizes the provision of internet connectivity free of charge at all public places nationwide, to include public schools, public parks and plazas, government hospitals and rural health units, the public and private libraries, and public transport terminals. Toledo said that as of November 21, 2019, a total of 3,084 sites has been identified covering 17 regions, 78 provinces, 782 cities and municipalities and 18 points of presence (PoP). He said that at the end of 2019 a total of 8,073 sites shall have been made operational, and by the year 2022 or before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends, 104,867 sites shall be connected through Free Wi-fi for All.

        UNDP Project Manager Imelda Lamboon said that the partnership between DICT and UNDP is a partnership based on social development to focus on women and men from disadvantaged communities to be able to enhance teaching/learning, deepen their agreement in governance processes, and avail of opportunities for economic development through increased access to free wifi hotspots. Lamboon stressed that for DICT-UNDP partnership, an initial of 6,000 sites across the Philippines has been agreed. For Phase I, Lamboon said that 3,000 sites had been awarded to Speedcast which is intended for eleven (11) provinces to facilitate the delivery and equipment installation. She also mentioned the partnership model for LGUs support particularly in the deployment of equipment to far-flung areas. She said, the partnership agreement is in the form of exchange of letters which seeks the support of the Provincial Governor and local chief executives, that without the assistance of the host LGUs, it would be very difficult in terms of deployment and installation of equipment. “The partnership agreement will also serve as a gatepass of the contractor,” Lamboon said. She also said that they already have collaborative meetings with the provinces of Cagayan, Palawan, Pampanga, Benguet, Batangas, Quezon, Albay, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur and Lanao del Sur, except for the province of Isabela because of the strong typhoon during the scheduled meeting last October 2019.

        The morning session concluded with the presentation of the technical specifications of the managed services discussed by Speedcast, the project contractor. Also presented was the deployment plan and schedule as well as some possible issues and concerns met during the project implementation.

        After the lunch break, participants were grouped by province. A representative from Provincial DICT joined the province for which he is assigned. For Workshop 1, the task was to identify issues, risks and recommended strategies during the pre-installation, during/post-installation. For Workshop 2, revisit list of public places and the announcement of final sites. For the province of Isabela, the group members were the following: Maria Visitacion M. Colobong, Planning Officer; Alvin E. Lauran, Information Officer I; Zarr Peter Paul A. Bulusan, Administrative Officer II; Perry Grace V. Agraviador, Administrative Aide IV; and Cirilo N. Gazzingan, DICT Isabela. A legal counsel from the Free Wifi for All Project also joined the Isabela group and shared comments and insights.

        DevLive mobile application was presented by DICT facilitators and pilot-tested by the participants on the second day. Participants with android phones were able to simulate first-hand the mobile app via Google Play. Participants were able to view government projects in their locality using the built-in map as well as the project list wherein satisfaction of projects implemented may be logged to the app. Development LIVE is a survey tool that allows a citizen to monitor and report local government’s projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals in the Philippines. DevLIVE was developed through the partnership of DILG with the UNDP to serve as a monitoring and feedback tool for infrastructure projects of local government units, civil society organizations, and government personnel. Users of DevLIVE app can take photographs of irregularities on infrastructure projects and send a report or feedback to the government. Feedbacks will be helpful to the Philippine government in responding any concerns or issues one might raise.

       The Pre-Deployment Conference wrapped-up with key messages from both DICT and UNDP representatives on the importance of the principle of “no one is left behind”, to cater the needs of the unserved and underserved communities in the country anchored on UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goals, and bridge the digital divide even to the remotest among the remote where it is most needed.