Prioritize free Wi-Fi in hospitals, airports, trains – Recto

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ralph Recto said that after the Department of Science and Technology‘s (DOST) launching of 6 pilot free Wi-Fi hotspots in Metro Manila, “public hospitals, airports and mass transit system must be prioritized next.”

Recto said free Wi-Fi access in major government hospitals is important so that the sick and those take care or treat them “can have a lifeline they can use to call a friend.” 

Communication is important for families whose loved ones are admitted in hospitals, he stressed. “If you’re a son of an OFW and you would like to get in touch with your father because your mom has been stricken ill, then you can do it within the hospital premises,” he said.

Wi-Fi in transportation hubs will also be important, as the country prepares to welcome visitors for the APEC Summit.

“2015 is Visit Philippines Year. It is also the year we’ll be hosting 15,000 delegates to the APEC Leaders’ Summit and run-up activities. As part of our preparations, we’re sprucing up NAIA, building flyovers, and repairing our roads. WiFi in gateways should be a parcel of this,” Recto said.

Recto said the idea is to choose installation areas which will yield the greatest public benefit.

“And this what [Science] Secretary [Mario] Montejo and his team are doing,” he said. “Making sure the government gets more bytes and benefits out of the buck.”

Long-term targets

The initiative is called the “Free Internet Connectivity in Public Places” project and has a budget of P1.4 billion this year. Recto is a sponsor of the program’s funding in the 2015 national budget. 

Under the original plan, no-charge Wi-Fi access will be set up in selected airports, hospitals, public schools, plazas, seaports, government offices and other public places.

He said the installation of a Wi-Fi service at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon City is a good start: “Ang concept kasi na ipinaliwanag sa akin is to install it in frontline government offices which draw the longest queues and the largest crowds.” (The concept that was explained to me is to install the net in frontline government offices)

The project’s long-term targets include the establishment of free Internet access points in 967 3rd to 6th class towns across the Philippines, Metro Manila and “points of presence” in 6 Luzon, 4 Visayas, and 4 Mindanao cities.

There will be 9,706 rural links in unserved and underserved areas.

The 6 sites initially chosen by the DOST in Metro Manila are the Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City Hall, PHILCOA, Social Security System, LTO, and Rizal Park in Manila.

The DOST recently announced 8 specific areas in Davao where free Wi-Fi will be provided to the public. (READ: Coming soon: Free WiFi in Davao City) 

The first pilot site in Quezon City Circle began in mid-July. – Rappler.com