The national government has allocated PHP3 billion to accelerate digital connectivity in public schools, particularly in remote and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), as announced by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Wednesday.
Of the funds, PHP1.5 billion will support the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Connectivity Enhancement Program, targeting over 8,200 “last-mile” schools nationwide, while another PHP1.5 billion goes to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for its Free Public Internet Access Program. Pangandaman stated, “Before, weak or non-existent Internet signals were a challenge for schools in remote areas. Today, we are making nationwide connectivity a reality.”
She emphasized the initiative’s impact, saying, “Through this program, students and teachers, especially in far-flung areas, will finally benefit from reliable digital access. No Filipino learner will be left behind in digital education.” The government aims to achieve 100 percent school connectivity by the end of 2025, with DICT and DepEd collaborating through a joint memorandum of agreement.
Pangandaman added, “We want every young Filipino – whether in the city or in the farthest island – to have equal access to quality education. This funding marks a major step toward realizing that vision.”