SAN FERNANDO CITY -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will roll out free Wi-Fi across the province of La Union this 2023. 

DICT formally presented the National Broadband Program (NBP) and Free Wi-Fi Project to the Provincial Government of La Union during a meeting held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in this city on Feb 17.

According to Engr. Jesus Agliam of DICT, the NBP was launched by the DICT to address the growing digital divide and to serve as the backbone of digital connectivity in the country. Under the 2023 procurement of this program, 142 sites in 50 locations across the province will be provided with free Wi-Fi.

Agliam said, there will be 34 sites to be put up on selected public places in La Union that includes municipal and city plaza, training centers, public schools, local hospitals and other LGU facilities.

Other five sites are for the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in the province including barangay halls in five localities. The free Wi-Fi will also be available in four selected tourist spots in La union.

In addition, seven sites will be established in Indigenous Cultural Communities. Director Antonio Edward Padre, Project Director of National Broadband Program, emphasized that the project is not competing commercially with the telecommunication companies.

“We take note here that we will not be competing commercially with telco providers, the NBPs shall only be for national and local governments,” he said.

The DICT-NBP envisions supermassive, resilient, and robust broadband network that can reach to the farthest islands and towns to bring digitize public services to its citizens.

As of February 2023, there are 17 operational Wi-Fi sites in four campus campuses of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) which are under the DICT-UNDP partnership project for state universities and colleges. (JCR/MJTAB/KDM, PIA Region 1)