TACLOBAN CITY — Public schools and other community spaces across Northern Samar are getting expanded access to the internet with the activation of 236 free Wi-Fi sites by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The connectivity sites, spread across all 24 municipalities of the province, are intended to provide residents, particularly students, with easier access to online learning materials, government services, employment opportunities and other digital resources.
DICT said 155 sites are under the Wi-Fi in Northern Samar (WiNS) Project, while another 81 sites are covered by the Public Internet Connectivity and Services Program–Public Wi-Fi Infrastructure and Connectivity Services Project (PICS-PP) Phase 2–Samar Island, Lot 2.
Most of the sites are located in public spaces, particularly public schools.
Of the 236 sites, 110 are in Northern Samar’s first district, covering 14 municipalities, while 126 are in the second district, which includes 10 municipalities.
The expansion comes amid continuing gaps in household internet access nationwide.
Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that only 48.8 percent of Filipino households had internet access at home in 2024, highlighting the importance of public connectivity facilities for communities without reliable household connections.
Northern Samar had earlier identified 77 priority areas for free internet connectivity in 2020, providing a basis for the expansion of government-supported connectivity in the province.
During the launch, DICT also distributed 1,821 Bayanihan SIM Cards to student beneficiaries in two municipalities.
A total of 1,187 SIM cards were turned over to Victoria, while 634 were provided to Laoang.
The SIM cards are intended to help students access online information, educational materials and other digital learning resources.
DICT said the free Wi-Fi sites and Bayanihan SIM cards form part of the government’s continuing efforts to bridge the digital divide by expanding connectivity for education, livelihood and access to essential services.
The initiative is being implemented with support from the Provincial Government of Northern Samar.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
