Duterte wants free Wi-Fi in more places, national broadband plan

Free Wi-Fi access must be available in more places and a national broadband plan must be developed, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday.

"Wi-Fi access shall be provided at no charge in selected public places including parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government hospitals, train stations, airports, and seaports," he said during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

This aim is in line with the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST)"Juan, Konek!", a digital empowerment project it rolled out in July 2015 that seeks to provide class 3, 4, 5 and 6 municipalities with internet access.

Originally designed for parks across the country, the program first implemented free Wi-Fi access in Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City Hall, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) building, the Social Security System (SSS), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Rizal Park.

National Broadband Plan

Duterte also ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to develop a National Broadband Plan "to accelerate deployment of fiber optics," he said in his address.

According to the DICT website, the National Broadband Plan would "give everyone the chance to reap the advantages of high-speed internet."

"The National Broadband Plan will be formulated and expected to be adopted within the year through a multi-stakeholder process. This would address issues such as among others to 'Ensure affordable access to every community' and 'Improve broadband connectivity'," it said. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News