Palace set to distribute satellite receivers in barangays for internet access

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

The government is preparing to roll out more than 40,000 units of satellite receivers with internet access for the public, even those in the secluded barangays, to have a direct access to the information being disseminated by the national government.

Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday that about 42,000 satellite receivers would be set up in order to prevent the public from disinformation.

“Nagkaroon tayo ng National Information Convention (NIC) kung saan for the first time, natipon po natin ang more than 1,800 information officers mula sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Pilipinas,” Andanar said in an interview with dzMm.

(We held the National Information Convention where for the first time we were able to gather more than 1,800 information officers from different parts of the country.)

“At very inspired sila at binigay natin sa kanila iyong balita na the government will be ready to roll out 42,000 satellite receivers para sa mga barangay, may internet po, may TV, mayroon pong government bulletin board,” he added.

(And they are very inspired to the news we shared to them: that the government will be ready to roll out 42,000 satellite receivers for the barangay, with internet, TV, it has a government bulletin board.)

According to Andanar, the satellite receivers would also help the government to fight over the spread of fake news.

“Panlaban ito sa disinformation, sa fake news (This is to counter any disinformation, fake news),” the PCOO secretary said

“Kasi alam mo hindi naman kaya natin lahat na nasa radyo, sa TV, sa online, kailangan mayroon ding face to face communication,” Andanar added.

(Because you know we can’t make it in all the radio, TV, online, we also need to have face to face.) /jpv