Senate recommends P3B fund for free public WiFi in PH

Rappler.com

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Senate recommends P3B fund for free public WiFi in PH
The DOST has identified 50,872 free Wi-Fi spots nationwide

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has recommended a nearly 10-fold increase in the budget of a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) program to provide public WiFi spots all over the country.

The Senate finance committee has recommended an increase in the 2015 budget of DOST’s Public Wi-Fi Program from P338 million ($7.5 million*) to P3 billion ($66.65 million), Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said in a statement on Friday, November 21.

Recto, chair of the finance subcommittee in charge of the proposed 2015 DOST budget and sponsor of the amendment, said the availability of more WiFi spots in the country will help link farmers and traders to markets, aid learning, and give people access to helpful and timely information.

The DOST has identified 50,872 free Wi-Fi spots nationwide, from which the initial batch will be set up in 2015.

The list includes 7,917 public high schools, 38,694 public elementary schools, 113 state colleges, 1,118 public libraries, and public spaces in 1,490 towns.

In the DOST draft blueprint, WiFi will eventually be provided in 895 provincial, regional hospitals, and state medical centers in Metro Manila; Public Employment Service Offices; 85 airports; 41 seaports; and 69 LRT, MRT, and PNR stations.

Recto said more free Wifi spots in the country would complement the Department of Tourism’s declaration of 2015 as “Visit Philippines Year” and the arrival of important state guests next year.

“We are expecting visitors ranging from the Pope to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. If we’re expecting millions more travelers, then among the convenience we can offer them is free Wi-Fi,” he said.

The senator was referring to the January 2015 visit of Pope Francis, and the Philippine hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit in November 2015.

The senator said the funding for the increased WiFi budget was made possible by the Senate’s decision to defer by one year the Department of Budget and Management’s lease-purchase of laptops for select government employees. – Rappler.com

*$1 = P45

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