Cheyenne Suarez

Internet in all public schools eyed this year: DICT

Teacher Sylvia Aquino makes last-minute preparation inside a kindergarten classroom devoid of any decoration at  Pinyahan Elementary School in Quezon City on Monday, August 28, 2023. The Department of Education issued Order No. 21 mandating all public schools to ensure that school grounds, classrooms, and all other school facilities are clean from unnecessary decoration, clarifying that appropriate visual aids may be used on related topics during classes. 

Maria Tan ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) commits to have all public schools in the Philippines connected to the internet before the end of the year, said Secretary Henry Aguda on Thursday.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously said that only 60 percent of schools have internet access, which he noted was very low.“There’s roughly around 50,000 schools, and we need to still connect yung idadagdag naming nasa 20,000 pa. Pero mabilis yan. Ang kagandahan naman nyan, we have the technology right now to connect them. Kami ni (Education) Secretary Sonny (Angara) are working overtime to go to the pinakaliblib talaga,” said Aguda at the sidelines of the National Information and Communications Technology Summit 2025.Aguda and Marcos had just visited the Flora Ylagan High School in Quezon City to observe the “Digital Bayanihan” between the Department of Education, the DICT, and local government units.From there, they had a video call with different schools up north in Basco, Batanes as well as in Visayas and Mindanao.DepEd said these schools are among the first beneficiaries of Starlink internet connectivity, a satellite-based internet under the joint initiatives of the DICT and DepEd.“We are very happy and thankful po sa mga free wifi dahil nagkaroon kami ng pag-asa na mapadali ang aming gawain, kaming mga guro, we can submit online our submissions, our lessons through internet. Also our senior high school students, nagkaroon sila ng mabisang research mula sa aming subject at sa iba’t-ibang aralin sa klase,” a teacher from Cebu told President Marcos.Aguda said a principal recalled not having a cellular service for the longest time, but they now have a Zoom service with free wifi connectivity.He adds the Konektadong Pinoy bill, which is up for the President’s signature, will help the DICT achieve its goal.“Mas maraming providers, mas maraming makaka-connect. Second, because of competition, natural yan, magkaka-improvement in the price… yung push niya for facility sharing,” he said.The measure aims to expand internet access in the country by making it easier for new players to enter the market. But the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators and the Philippine Association of Private Telecommunications Companies have expressed concerns over the bill, citing possible security and regulatory risks.But Aguda believes their worries could be addressed in the implementing rules and regulations.“Eh di lalagyan natin ng security safeguards. Yun lang ang sagot doon. At least na-point out na nila yung mga kailangang i-plug na gaps. Hindi naman ibig sabihin pag may kulang, ibabalik na sa kongreso,” he added.

By the end of the year, all public schools in the Philippines will have internet access, according to the DICT.

By the end of the year, all public schools in the Philippines will have internet access, according to the DICT.