BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 28(PIA) - - The Department of Information and Communication Technology and the City Government of Baguio have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for a partnership in establishing free Wifi/Internet services in public places and the city’s Broadband Network.
The MOA signing of the first kind of partnership in the country was held on September 25 at the Baguio Convention Center with DICT Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan and Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
Honasan informed that aside from the DICT’s mandate under the “Free Wifi for All” and the National Broadband programs, President Rodrigo Duterte directed the Agency to ensure connectivity as more and more daily services and activities are taking place online especially during this COVID – 19 pandemic where online transactions and communications play important role.
“The trend towards digitalization is one of the most urgent concerns that the government needs to tackle in the new normal. The recognition of this urgent need is at the heart of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s instruction to the DICT - to connect the government to other governments, domestic and global; government to businesses; government to citizens and everybody to each other”, Honasan said.
The MOA between DICT and the City Government of Baguio, generally aims to facilitate and accelerate through cooperative efforts the implementation and roll- out of free Wifi/internet access in all public places of the city as mandated by Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet in Public Places Act.
Under the partnership, DICT will provide infrastructure and technical support to the City Government’s effort in establishing the Baguio Broadband Program, which aside from the provision of free wifi in public places, will also ensure the connectivity of national line agencies and local government offices.
Magalong, in behalf of the city government of Baguio, expressed gratitude to DICT and Secretary Honasan for the partnership, as it will be a big help in bringing the National Broadband Program inside the City of Baguio and connecting it to the “SMART City System” plan of Baguio.
The Mayor shared that any time soon, Baguio City will start the construction of the Smart City System and DICT’s infrastructure support will be important in ensuring that the said system will be running on its optimum.
Through the system, the city government can provide free wifi access to government agencies and public places. More importantly it will be a big help in the online learning of the blended education program that is being implemented by schools in the city, Magalong added. (JDP/CCD- PIA CAR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments