TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has expanded digital access in Eastern Samar with the launch of 81 Free WiFi sites in Borongan City, alongside the rollout of key e-governance programs aimed at strengthening digital public services and financial inclusion.
The initiative was formally launched during a ceremony at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Borongan City, where the DICT also recognized the city as a pioneer in Eastern Samar for implementing the eGov kiosk and PalengQR Plus program.
The June 23 rollout formed part of a broader inter-agency effort in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The programs are designed to promote digital governance, encourage cashless transactions, and enhance digital literacy through training hubs for teachers, government employees, local government units, and public officials.
Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, in his message, said the initiatives bring government services closer to residents and respond to the growing demand for digital transformation in public service delivery.
As part of the expansion, the DICT activated 81 Free WiFi sites covering all 61 barangays of Borongan City, providing residents with wider and more accessible internet connectivity.
The agency also highlighted Borongan City’s early adoption of digital solutions, noting that it was the first local government unit in Eastern Samar to implement the PalengQR Plus system in March 2025, encouraging cashless transactions among market vendors and consumers.
Later in the same year, an eGov kiosk was installed at the Borongan City Hall lobby, allowing residents to access government services electronically and reducing the need for in-person transactions—part of the modernization push of Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, who has prioritized digital innovation in local governance.
Borongan City is also recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a Smart City, one of only two local government units in Eastern Visayas with the distinction, alongside Ormoc City.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
