DICT vows nationwide internet for public schools by year-end

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is committing to connect every public school in the Philippines to the internet before the end of 2025, Secretary Henry Aguda announced last week.

Speaking at the National Information and Communications Technology Summit, Aguda acknowledged that only around 60 percent of the country’s roughly 50,000 public schools currently have internet access—a figure previously flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as alarmingly low. 

The DICT aims to bridge the gap by connecting an estimated 20,000 remaining schools, particularly those in remote and underserved areas.

“We now have the technology to reach even the most far-flung communities,” Aguda said, adding that he and Education Secretary Sonny Angara have been working together to accelerate the rollout, especially in geographically isolated schools.

Aguda and President Marcos recently visited Flora Ylagan High School in Quezon City to witness firsthand the “Digital Bayanihan” initiative—a collaborative effort among the DICT, Department of Education (DepEd), and local government units. 

During the visit, they held live video calls with schools as far north as Basco, Batanes, and in regions across the Visayas and Mindanao, all made possible through satellite internet service powered by Starlink.

DepEd said the selected schools are among the initial beneficiaries of this satellite connectivity program. One teacher from Cebu shared her gratitude with the President, noting how free internet has helped both teachers and students. 

“We now have hope. We can submit our lesson plans and requirements online. Our senior high school students can finally conduct effective research for their subjects,” she said.

In another instance, Aguda recounted how a school principal shared that their area had no cell service for years—until the arrival of free Wi-Fi enabled video conferencing and online learning.

To further institutionalize efforts to expand digital connectivity, Aguda highlighted the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Bill, now awaiting President Marcos’ signature. The measure seeks to open the telecommunications market to more players, promote infrastructure sharing among providers, and drive down internet costs through healthy competition.

While some telco industry groups have raised concerns about security and regulatory implications, Aguda said these issues could be addressed through well-crafted implementing rules and regulations. 

“If there are gaps, we’ll plug them with security safeguards,” he said. “Pointing them out is part of the process—there’s no need to go back to Congress just because there are concerns.”

With renewed momentum and cross-agency collaboration, the DICT remains confident it can deliver on its promise to bring internet access to all public schools, empowering students and educators across the archipelago.