DICT personnel lead the rollout of internet connectivity initiatives in the Cordillera Administrative Region as the agency expands digital access and government services across the region. Photo courtesy of DICT-CAR.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has connected every province and municipality in the Cordillera Administrative Region to the internet, expanding access to government services, education and communication.
DICT Cordillera Regional Director Jimmicio Daoaten said the National Backbone Plan and GovNet had strengthened the region’s digital infrastructure by linking government offices to reliable, high-capacity internet services.
The number of integrated government sites increased from 72 in 2023 to 107 as of July 2026, with the network maintaining a 99 percent service uptime to support uninterrupted public operations.
All 77 municipalities in the region are now connected, while 611 barangays have gained internet access. Of these villages, 284 are classified as geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, with 52 more sites targeted for expansion.
By mid-2026, the government recorded 1,437 active connectivity sites across 718 barangays. The network also serves 365 schools, giving students in remote communities access to online learning and providing communication channels during emergencies.
The DICT also distributed 39,753 SIM cards with free data and call services to students and personnel of the Department of Education. Starlink units were deployed in areas where installing fiber lines was not feasible.
Alongside the infrastructure rollout, the agency trained 3,742 residents in digital skills and online scam prevention during the first half of the year. It also provided artificial intelligence and digital literacy training to government employees and students.
Photo caption: A student accesses the internet through a government-supported connectivity site in the Cordillera Administrative Region as the DICT expands digital access to remote communities.
Daoaten said the connectivity program would continue expanding to reach more communities, supporting the government’s goal of treating internet access as an essential public service rather than a privilege.