Marcos leads rollout of internet for students, teachers in remote areas
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the rollout of internet connection for students and teachers in remote areas across the country.
The Office of the Secretary (OPS) in a statement, said that the event “Online Kamustahan,” was part of the administration’s “BroadBand ng Masa Program” (BBMP), which aims to provide internet connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) across the country.
In his message during the event, Marcos vowed to cover all areas in the country under the BBMP, especially those without access to cellular services.
“Yung mga malalayo, ‘yan ang mas kailangan. Lalo na ‘yung mga bata, para sa kanilang eskwela. Buti na lang, maraming bagong teknolohiya na pwedeng gamitin, na we’re taking full advantage of,” Marcos said in the rollout event which was held online.
(Those who are far away, that’s where it is needed more. Especially the children for their school work. Fortunately, there are many new technologies that can be used, which we’re taking full advantage of.)
According to Marcos, the use of digital technologies will significantly improve government services and help the country improve interconnectivity.
“Para naman kahit saan sa Pilipinas, makakaramdam tayo ng connectivity. At napakaimportante na ngayon niyan,” he added.
(So that anywhere in the Philippines, we can feel connectivity. And that is very important now.)
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy, for his part, said the program seeks to build a “direct connection” that will link geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas to the government.
“Meron na po tayong direct na koneksyon sa pamahalaan, sa paggamit nitong mga teknolohiya. Marami pong magagawa, hindi lang sa mga bata, sa estudyante, kundi pati sa transaksyon natin sa gobyerno,” Uy said.
(We now have a direct connection with the government when using these technologies. There is a lot that can be done, not only for the children, for the students, but also in our transaction with the government.)
“Paiigtingin po natin ito, at gagawin ho nating mas marami ang koneksyon,” the DICT secretary added.
(We will intensify this, and we will make more connections.)
Uy said that the government has so far established 628 additional operational free Wi-Fi sites – on top of the existing 4,129 sites – bringing the total live sites to 4,757 areas nationwide.
Among those who joined the “Online Kamustahan” event were students and school representatives from Pag-asa Island Elementary School in Kalayaan, Palawan; Armenia Elementary School in Uson, Masbate; Bandera Elementary School in the Island Garden City of Samal; Amai Pakpak Central Elementary School in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; Dioryong Integrated School in Nagtipunan, Quirino Province; Villa Espina Elementary School in Lopez, Quezon; and Landang Laum Elementary School in Zamboanga City.
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