Tarpaulin shows how the public can access the free Wi-Fi service in Batanes.

BATANES — It’s already past 6 p.m. in Basco Plaza, but it’s still quite early for some Ivatans to go home. They are not here to watch a volleyball game or a football practice; instead, some residents of Batanes have come here to connect to the park’s free Wi-Fi service.
Ivatans connect to the free Wi-Fi service in Basco Plaza.

It was in 2021 when the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) first deployed free Wi-Fi hotspots in Batanes under the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP). As of May 31, 2025, the department has delivered the service through 131 access points distributed across 95 locations.

Mary Jane Hornedo, who was at the park with her two kids watching TikTok videos, said they walked all the way from Sabtang Island to connect to the free internet service in the area. 

Hornedo, who also uses the free service in selling frozen goods, recognized how their quality of life improved now that they can access social media sites anywhere in the province.

“Mas madali ngayon hindi tulad noon na magpapa-load ka pa,” she said.

(It's easier now, unlike before, when you still needed to purchase mobile load.)

Although there’s a free Wi-Fi hotspot in their barangay, Hornedo admitted it’s not always stable.

“Nagagamit buong araw, hindi naman totally nawawala [‘yung internet], pero humihina kasi may mga bata na tumatambay [at] naglalaro ng mobile games,” she said.

(We can use the internet for a whole day; it never goes, although the connection gets weak when kids stay in the barangay to play mobile games)

Internet for government services

Police investigator Genard Ibañez said “everyone” from utility personnel to police officers in their station are using the free Wi-Fi especially during calamities.

While their work computers have their own internet connection, he said phones, which are connected to the public hotspot, can also help in filing police reports and overall assure safety in Batanes. 

Froilan Tomas, a security guard at Basco General Hospital, also confirmed the reliability of the free internet access on their end.

According to Tomas, doctors, nurses, patients, and visitors can all access the internet.  

“Dito kasi, ma'am, isla lang. Mahirap talaga 'yung signal namin dito kaya importante po sa amin ‘yang free WiFi,” he said.

(Here, ma’am, we live on an island and our signal is really poor here, so free Wi-Fi service is important for us.)

Internet for personal use

Tourists are also taking advantage of the agency's free service now that tarpaulins displaying access codes are everywhere as soon as they arrive at Basco Airport.

Travel photographer and vlogger James Singlador and his friend Marie Bulario visit Batanes.

Travel photographer and vlogger James Singlador and his buddy Marie Bulario described the initiative as convenient because it allows them to update their followers and family members in real time.

According to Bulario, her friends who have remote jobs can also work from the province with minimal stress, thanks to the free Wi-Fi.

On National ICT Month, the DICT also vowed to create eight million digital jobs by 2028.

In support, online business owner Monette Tabuso and freelancer Bodjing Astudillo III testified how the free Wi-Fi service in their province helped them make a living. 

From being a full-time data analyst in Manila, Tabuso chose to become a social media entrepreneur and return to Batanes. Meanwhile, Astudillo transitioned from being an online freelancer to becoming a full-time remote worker.

Other digital initiatives 

With the help of free internet service, the DICT also launched the PalengQR drive in the province, promoting safer, faster, and more inclusive digital transactions.

In partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), a digital payment ecosystem in the country is being built through the program that encourages cashless payments in public setups.

This June, the department also launched the eLGU system, which allows Ivatans to conveniently apply for government services like birth certificates, business permits, and cedulas from the comfort of their homes.

Currently, 60 percent of the total target locations identified in Batanes already have free Wi-Fi.

The DICT said it aims to improve the service in the area and activate the remaining 158 locations in the next phase, once the project receives additional funding through the Department of Budget and Management.