By Jonathan G. Villaraza
(Photo courtesy of PNA)
Some good news for netizens.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) assured the public yesterday the recently approved $288-million Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) will expand the coverage of the free Wi-Fi program as the government moves to strengthen the country’s broadband connectivity.
In a Palace briefing, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy said the project, hopefully, will complete the national fiber backbone of the country and bring high speed internet connection even in disadvantaged areas through the establishment of over 700 new free Wi-Fi sites.
Touted as the flagship initiative of the DICT under the PBBM administration, which would involve the construction of a public broadband infrastructure network, the project will be financed through official development assistance from the World Bank.
“We should be able to also provide 772 free Wi-Fi sites concentrating on Mindanao in Region XI... Regions XI and Region XIII,” Dy told reporters.
He said studies show that for every 10 percent increase in internet penetration rate or coverage, it constitutes around a 1.38 percent rise in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
In targeting Mindanao, Dy said that though the entire country has an internet penetration rate of 73.6 percent, the disparity is seen to be larger in Mindanao where in some regions, especially Region XIII, the internet penetration rate is lower than 17 percent.
The focus areas where the free Wi-Fi sites are set to be built are public schools, state universities and colleges, and rural health units, he added.
Enacted in 2017, Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places requires public places like hospitals, transport terminals, and government offices to provide free internet access.
In the same briefing, Dy bared the Philippines’ cybersecurity is now ”significantly better,” citing the country’s improved detection and response mechanisms.
This despite the recent arrest of a group of hackers and the reported breach on the database of fast food giant.
Dy said the country is now employing new techniques and procedures against hackers and has been exchanging key information with local and international allies.
“What I would say is that we are significantly better now. We are significantly better now. Our detection mechanisms are there. Our protective systems are there and you will notice that we are now sharing information also with our allies,” Dy said.
“Meaning, it’s not just one-way communication with our allies. We are also sharing with them how we found out certain tactics, techniques and procedures being employed by hackers of international origin,” he said.
However, Dy said the country still has a lot of room for improvement, especially in its detection capabilities.
“Are we at par with our regional counterparts? To give you an example, Singapore is only like six million people, but they are detecting approximately 18,000 attacks per year. We are only detecting around 3,000 per year. But we are 118 million Filipinos,” he said.
He also pitched for the enactment of a cybersecurity law to augment the country’s defense in the digital sphere.
So far, around 2,900 early detections of hacking attempts at different government agencies’ platforms, including local government units, have been prevented, Dy said.
‘Face the case’
At the same time, Dy advised Manila Bulletin senior technology officer Art Samaniego Jr., who was implicated in hacking incidents involving private companies and government websites, to face the accusations against him.
A data security officer of Manila Bulletin has admitted to hacking around 90 websites, as well as servers based abroad, and identified Samaniego as the person who ordered the hacking.
"But for Art, my advice is trust the process, face the case. He will be given ample time to prepare for his defense. So he should. He should be given that privilege," Dy told Palace reporters when asked to comment on the issue.
He said Samaniego is the founder of ScamWatch Philippines, a partner of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center of the DICT against online scamming.
Samaniego has been quoted in earlier reports as denying the allegations against him.