BANAYBANAY, Davao Oriental- Major public places in the Municipality of Banaybanay have recently been powered with free-wifi-for-all internet connection provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Personally attended by DICT Regional Director Evamay C. dela Rosa, DICT switched on the free-wifi connection at the public transport terminal and at the Municipal Hall grounds providing a public access to the internet.
“Thru this program, the DICT free-wifi-for-all, the government is able to accelerate efforts to enhance internet connectivity or accessibility for Filipinos sa daghang pamaagi (in many ways): economic social, entrepreneurial, educational,” Dela Rosa said during the launching rites of the free wifi project rolled out under the Free Public Internet Access Program at the covered court of Banaybanay Municipal Hall.
In his presentation during the launching rites, Jose Benjamin Valencia II of DICT XI said that DICT has 29 free-wifi-for-all operational sites in the province of Davao Oriental with the two additional sites switched on in Banaybanay.
On top of providing wifi access in public spaces in Davao Oriental, DICT is currently implementing the Regional IP Transport Municipal at the DICT Davao Oriental Provincial Office in the City of Mati; in Baganga Municipal Plaza, and in Lupon Municipal Plaza.
On the deck for procurement of equipment for another internet access projects are intended for Davao Oriental State University (DorSu) extensions in the City of Mati, Banaybanay, San Isidro, Cateel; and for Governor Generoso College of Arts, Science and Technology.
Valencia explained that the free wifi project is not just on provision of internet connectivity but it is a way of capacitating the public against online scams.
DICT is also extending training and educational sessions on Internet Media and Information Literacy, Digital Literacy Training, and cybersecurity awareness to promote the use of the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI).
In his response, Banaybanay Municipal Mayor Lemuel Ian Larcia expressed gratitude, noting the various information and technology assistance that municipal LGU had received from DICT.
DICT paved way for the turnover of the School-in-a-bag project to E. Angala Memorial Elementary School in Brgy Maputi from PLDT-Smart Foundation, and from Huawei Philippines, containing 10 tablets, one netbook and a pre-loaded pocket wifi.
DICT also had installed a business licensing system and set up a Tech4Ed Center in the Municipality of Banaybanay on top of the free-wifi-for-all internet access. (PIA XI/ Jean Duron Abangan)
