Free Wifi in the Philippines

Sen. Bam lauds House for passing measure on free internet in public spaces

Sen. Bam Aquino lauded the House of Representatives for passing on third and final reading a measure that will establish free internet connection in public spaces.

“Ngayong nakalusot na sa Kamara ang panukala, inaasahan natin na ito’y maisasabatas sa lalong madaling panahon upang mapakinabangan na ng ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam, referring to House Bill No. 5225 or the “Free Public Wi-Fi Act”.

 “As an enabler for education and for business, we should explore all efforts to improve the internet infrastructure and provide Filipinos with fast, reliable internet connections,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act as principal sponsor and co-author. It was approved by the Senate on third and final reading via 18-0 vote.

 Sen. Bam’s fellow Tarlaqueno — Tarlac 2nd District Rep. Victor Yap – sponsored the measure as chairman of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology.

The authors of the measure in the House include Reps. Gus Tambunting, Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Geraldine Roman, Sarah Jane Elago, Vilma Santos-Recto, Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Jr., Ann Hofer;

Henry Ong, Rose Marie Arenas, Aniceto Bertiz III, Jose Enrique Garcia III, Francis Gerald Abaya, Micaela Violago, Enrico Pineda, Maria Cristina Roa-Puno, Dakila Carlo Cua and Mariano Michael Velarde Jr.

 The measure aims to provide internet access in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

Under the measure, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be mandated to craft a plan and a timeline for the rollout of this program.

 The measure also authorizes the DICT to cut red tape and streamline the process for the application of permits and certificates for the construction of infrastructure and installation of necessary equipment, in coordination with national government agencies and local government units.

 Meanwhile, Sen. Bam announced that his committee is scheduled to resume hearing on the national broadband plan next week.

Sponsorship Speech: An Act Establishing Free Internet Access in Public Places Act

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, December 14, 2016

Good afternoon, Mr. President and esteemed colleagues! Mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat.

 Today, it is an honor to address you, Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, to sponsor an audacious policy that will enable us to leapfrog Internet access in the Philippines.

 I stand before you to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1277 in substitution of S.B. Nos. 58, 190, 816, and 1050, entitled “An Act Establishing The Free Internet Access Program In Public Spaces In The Country And Appropriating Funds Thereof, otherwise known as “Free Internet Access in Public Places Act” which seeks to install free internet access points in public places all throughout the country.

—

 Friends, meet Jose.

Jose wishes to escape the city and travel the entire Philippines to discover with his own eyes the wonders of our country.

Jose will not let work stop him. He can work remotely and send his reports via email.

Jose won’t even let his girlfriend stop him. They can always message one another and even go on video-call dates while he is away.

 All Jose is waiting for is for, Mr. President, is for Internet in the Philippines to be available in every island, mountain, and valley.

—

Mr. President, napaka importante ng internet sa buhay natin.

Para kay Jose, ito’y importante para makapaglibot sa Pilipinas, mag-post ng mga selfie sa Mayon, magtrabaho mula sa kubo, at makipag-online date sa gitna ng mangrove sa Palawan.

 Para sa iba nating kababayan, ito’y mahalaga para makausap at humingi ng payo mula sa amang nagtatrabaho sa Saudi.

Para sa mga call center agent, ang internet ang nag-uugnay sa kanila at kanilang mga kausap abroad.

Para sa mga freelancers, ito’y kailangan para makausap ng maayos ang kliente at mapadala ang hinihinging trabaho.

 Para sa mga negosyanteng Pinoy, ito’y nagagamit sa pagbebenta ng gamit o paghahanap ng mga bagong supply.

Para sa maraming unemployed, ito’y importante para makapag-apply sa mas maraming trabaho online.

Para sa mga guro at mag-aaral, ang internet ang pinanggagalingan ng research, ng learning materials, at modules.

And yet, Mr. President, only about 52.6% of Filipinos have access to Internet services (ITU).

Compared to our neighbors, we are clearly lagging behind in Internet access. The same study shows that 81.3% of Singaporeans, 68% of Malaysians and 60.1% of Thais can access the Internet.

For this reason, Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, it is imperative that we institutionalize this very important platform – to improve access to quality Internet in the Philippines and provide free internet connectivity in public spaces.

The Free Internet Access in Public Places Act mandates the establishment of the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and end-user platform needed to give all Filipinos free internet access in public spaces. 

Under this act, all national and local government offices, public schools – from elementary to tertiary – public transport terminals, public hospitals, and public libraries will have free internet access. 

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be charged with developing a plan and a timeline for the rollout of this program. They shall also take the lead in coordinating with local government units to ensure the on-ground implementation of the program. 

Most importantly, the DICT shall be authorized to streamline the process for the application of permits and certificates for the construction of infrastructure and installation of equipment necessary – a major hurdle faced by companies seeking to build internet infrastructure. 

To address this, national government agencies and local government units will also have the responsibility of coordinating with the DICT and DILG to fast-track these permits and certificates necessary for the program’s roll-out. 

They shall also be in charge of maintaining and safeguarding the program and its equipment with a designated on-site coordinator. 

 Offering Filipinos free high-quality internet access in public places is going to revolutionize the way that we go about our day and open our minds to boundless possibilities for how we can make our lives, our families, and our communities better.

 Mr. President, noong ako’y napuntang Bacolod, bumisita po ako sa Alegria Elementary School kung saan nakilala ko si Baryeth. Siya’y Grade 6 student na miyembro rin ng student council.

 Ang request po niya sakin: sana mayroon na silang internet connection sa paaralan para magawa nila ng mabilis at maayos ang kanilang mga school project.

Mr. President, 26% lang ng ating mga public schools ang may access sa internet at karamihan pa sa mga paaralang mayroong internet ay nagtiyatiyaga sa mga USB dongle.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, now is the time to invest completely in developing internet quality and bringing this powerful tool to every port, every station, every park, every museum, and every classroom in the Philippines.

 Imagine tourist sites with free Internet access, where travelers from here and abroad can read up on historical sites and post beautiful photos of our country on social media.

Imagine museums with free WIFI and downloadable applications so visitors can learn more about our arts and culture.

Imagine strolling through a public park and connecting to free Internet so you don’t have to worry about whether you’re missing out on important emails.

 Imagine getting last-minute work done at an airport or seaport while waiting to go on your next adventure.

 And imagine hundreds of state universities and thousands of public schools with access to world-class learning materials and educational videos, making the most out of the World Wide Web to enhance learning.

Kung hindi po ngayon, kailan pa? Ang internet ay maaaring maging susi sa pag-unlad ng bawat Pilipino – at susi sa pagtupad ng Philippine travel dreams ni Jose.

 Let’s pass the Free Internet in Public Places Act and arm Filipinos with the power of connectivity, the power of information, and the power of education!

BIDA KA!: Libreng wi-fi sa paaralan

Mga bida, bilang chairman ng Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture ngayong 17th Congress, bahagi ng aking tungkulin ay tingnan ang kalagayan ng mga pampublikong paaralan at state colle­ges and universities (SUCs) sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.

Ito’y upang mapakinggan ang hinaing ng mga estudyante at ma­laman ang pangangailangan ng mga paaralan, tulad ng kakulangan ng silid-aralan, upuan, aklat at iba pang mga kagamitan.

Mahalagang malaman ang mga pangangailangang ito upang maisama at mabigyan ng karampatang pondo sa pambansang budget.

***

Kamakailan, dinalaw natin ang Alegria National High School nang magtungo tayo sa Bacolod City.

Natutuwa naman tayo sa mainit na pagtanggap ng mga estudyante, guro at mga magulang sa ating pagdating.

Ininspeksiyon natin ang mga silid-aralan at iba pang pasi­lidad ng paaralan at nagsagawa ng round table discussion sa mga pinuno ng paaralan at student leaders upang malaman ang kanilang pangangailangan.

Sa nasabing round-table discussion, nabigyan ng pagkaka­taon ang mga estudyante na magsalita at maiparating ang mga kailangan sa pag-aaral.

Isang Grade 10 ang tumayo at nagsabi na isa sa pinaka­malaking pangangailangan nila ay silid-aralan, na sa ngayon ay siksikan kaya nahihirapan silang mag-aral.

Isa pang binanggit ng estudyante ay ang kakulangan ng computer at internet sa kanilang paaralan na magagamit sa paggawa ng assignment.

 

Kahit pa kulang ang mga libro, kung may internet ay magagamit nila ang pinakamahusay at world-class na mater­yales para sa edukasyon.

***

Kabilang ang Alegria National High School sa 74% ng public schools na walang internet connection, batay sa data mula sa Department of Education (DepEd).

May sapat na pondo naman ang DepEd para i-connect ang mga paaralan sa internet ngunit dahil kulang ang imprastruktura at signal ng internet, hindi sila mabigyan ng magandang koneksiyon.

Nakababahala ang numerong ito dahil mahalaga ang connectivity sa internet sa pagtuturo at pagkuha ng karunungan.

Kaya sa ginawa nating pagdinig sa Senate Bill No. 1050 o ang panukala kong lagyan ng libreng internet ang public schools at SUCs sa buong bansa, hinikayat natin ang DepEd, Department of Information and Communications (DICT) at telecommunication companies na maglatag ng plano upang matugunan ang problema.

Sa ating pagdinig, humingi ako ng roadmap mula sa mga kaukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan at pribadong sektor kung paano mabibigyan ang 100% ng public schools at SUCs ng libreng internet connection.

Sa paglalagay ng internet sa mga paaralan, masusuportahan ang pag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng learning materials at online information.

Sa ilalim ng panukala, aatasan ang bagong tatag na Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) na bigyan ng malakas na internet connection ang mga estudyante, faculty members at iba pang non-teaching personnel.

Ang internet connection na ito ay dapat ilagay sa isang lugar kung saan makakasagap ng malakas na signal ang lahat.

Kumbinsido ako na dapat sanayin ang mga estudyante sa responsableng paggamit ng internet upang mapabilis ang pag-unlad ng kanilang kaalaman at maging produktibong mamamayan sa hinaharap.

Bam: LGUs open to fast tracking permits for cell sites, IT infrastructure

Are you amenable to fast tracking permits for Internet infrastructure?

 Senator Bam Aquino threw this challenge to local government units (LGUs), which are being blamed for the slow and tedious issuing of permits to build the cell sites needed to improve internet quality in the country.

 “If we include provisions on fast tracking cell site construction, how would the LGUs feel about that?” Sen. Bam asked during the Senate hearing on proposal to grant President Duterte emergency powers to solve the worsening traffic problem in the country.

“If in the emergency powers bill, in an Executive Order, or in the Free Wi-Fi Bill, nakalagay doon na within one month, the cities must choose specific areas for cell site applications, would you be amenable?” Sen. Bam asked Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco and representatives from Manila and Pasay.

“Opo. In fact, we also want that dahil iyan ang hinihingi ng mga kababayan namin, magiging expeditious din ang mga proyekto at the same time, iyong access the communication mabilis din,” said Mayor Bautista.

 However, Bautista said they can only fast track the process for government-owned properties and not on private properties, such as subdivisions, which must go through the regular process of permit approval.

 “We fully support that proposal. Kaya po iyon,” said Manila City administrator Atty. Ericson Alcovendaz.

 “We support that initiative. Information Technology (IT) has a significant footprint on the solution [to traffic]. If we can make less people go out on the streets and work from home, so much the better,” stressed Pasay City administrator Dennis Acorda.

Chipeco, for his part, supports the proposal as he sees the need to improve Internet speed because it is a necessity, more than a luxury. 

In an earlier hearing conducted by Sen. Bam as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and telecommunication companies complained about difficulty in acquiring permits from LGUS for their infrastructure development efforts.

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