Honasan calls for higher 2021 budget for DICT

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is calling for an increase in its budget for 2021 to better implement its major programs to improve internet connectivity.

During a Senate hearing on Tuesday on the proposed budget of the department for next year, DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan said the agency has a roadmap for the so-called new normal caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes the National Broadband Program (NBP) and free access to WiFi in public places and state universities and colleges.

“With the COVID-19 issue, we appreciate and understand the contracting fiscal space but we would like to appeal for any incremental increase in our budget so that we can pursue our main programs effectively,” Honasan told senators.

According to Honasan, the ideal budget for the NBP under the new normal is P18 billion, while for the free WiFi project, the ideal funding is P6 billion.

However, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has only approved P902 million for the national broadband program and P2.7 billion for the free WiFi project.

“Just look at the discrepancy,” Honasan said.

He said the DICT has requested for an additional budget of P17 billion for the NBP and another P3.6 billion for the free WiFi project.

“In total, in broad strokes, we requested for P46 billion [budget for 2021]. We are earmarked to be given about P4 billion. Historically, last budget, humingi kami ng 36 [billion], binigyan kami ng six [billion],” he noted.

NBP is the DICT’s blueprint for the acceleration of the deployment of fiber optic cables and wireless technologies for the overall improvement of the internet connection in the country.

JE