Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786581736590Screenshot 2026-08-13 at 8.42.01 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that would give students in public and private higher education institutions free access to  free high-speed WiFi on their campuses, digital textbooks, and other academic resources. </p><p>House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday said House Bill No. 9532 or the proposed “Universal Access to Digital Academic Learning Resources Act” seeks to address inequalities in access to learning materials and internet connectivity that continue to put many Filipino students at a disadvantage.</p><p>“Today, a student who cannot afford textbooks or reliable internet access is already starting at a disadvantage. Isipin natin ang isang estudyante na kailangang mamili kung bibili ng libro at magpapaload para makapag-research, o gagamitin ang pera para sa pamasahe at pagkain. Through this bill, our youth do not need to make this painful choice,” he said. </p><p>Under the measure—passed on third reading on Wednesday with 202 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions—a National Academic Content Repository (NACR) would be established. </p><p>It would provide students and faculty nationwide free online access to digital textbooks, lecture videos, syllabi, research papers, and open educational resources across different disciplines.</p><p>The measure also mandates free, campus-wide high-speed WiFi for enrolled students and faculty in public and private HEIs, with priority given to rural and under-resourced campuses during its initial implementation. The internet service will be designed to support access to the NACR and other academic services.</p><p>Dy said that the House “recognizes that access to education today also means access to technology.” </p><p>“Hindi na puwedeng ang kalidad ng pag-aaral ng isang estudyante ay nakadepende sa kung kaya niyang bumili ng mamahaling libro o kung may sapat siyang pera para sa internet,” he said. </p><p>HB 9532 would also support the creation of Filipino academic content by providing grants for localized and open educational resources, while directing the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to work with local and international publishers to secure affordable or open-access arrangements. </p><p>Faculty members would be encouraged to develop and share materials, with recognition and incentives for content used nationally.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED STORIES: </strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/12/house-panel-oks-bills-creating-disaster-food-bank-institutionalize-green-infrastructure-1843">House panel OKs bills creating disaster food bank, institutionalizing green infrastructure</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/12/house-members-question-cuts-in-social-services-health-agriculture-in-2027-nep-1737">House members question cuts in social services, health, agriculture in 2027 NEP</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/12/house-lawmakers-clash-at-hearing-over-alleged-belligerent-stance-vs-nuclear-energy-measures-2155">House lawmakers clash at hearing over alleged ‘belligerent’ stance vs nuclear energy measures</a></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that would give students in public and private higher education institutions free access to free high-speed WiFi on their campuses, digital textbooks, and other academic resources.</p>

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that would give students in public and private higher education institutions free access to free high-speed WiFi on their campuses, digital textbooks, and other academic resources.

House OKs bill for free WiFi for students

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House OKs bill for free WiFi for students

ABS-CBN News

Published August 13, 2026 08:45 AM PHT

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