Latest news with #DICT
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
'Free WiFi for All' program to boost internet access for last mile schools
Teachers and students in geographically isolated and underserved public schools are expected to benefit from improved internet connectivity under the government's ongoing "Free WiFi for All" initiative. The Digital Bayanihan Project is a joint effort by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Education (DepEd). The project aims to expand internet access across schools in remote areas as part of the government's digital inclusion efforts for Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) communities. Among the Last Mile Schools that now have internet access are: Radagan Elementary School, Ilocos Norte (Region I) Chanarian Elementary School, Batanes (Region II) Tibagan Elementary School, Bulacan (Region III) Caigdal National High School, Quezon (Region IV-A) Ulanguan Elementary School, Marinduque (Region IV-B) Lipata Integrated School, Camarines Sur (Region V) Bay-ang National High School, Iloilo (Region VI) Salamanca National High School, Cebu (Region VII) Tigbawan Integrated School, Leyte (Region VIII) Pag-asa Elementary School, Tawi-Tawi (Region IX) Dalingap Elementary School, Misamis Occidental (Region X) Malungon Elementary School, North Cotabato (Region XII) Cabawa Elementary School, Surigao del Norte (Region XIII) Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School, Agusan del Norte (Region XIII) Tangalan National High School, Apayao (CAR) Previously having limited or no internet connection, these schools are now included in a growing network of connected schools through infrastructure support under the government's Bagong Pilipinas campaign. 'Marami talagang magagawa kapag may internet na. Pararamihin pa namin ito, especially sa GIDA areas—yung mga isolated at underserved,' said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (There's so much more that can be done when there's internet. We will expand this further, especially in GIDA areas—those that are geographically isolated and disadvantaged.) Education Secretary Sonny Angara took part in the same virtual event while visiting Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School in Agusan del Norte. The school, previously without electricity, now runs on solar power provided by the National Electrification Administration (NEA). It also received digital learning tools such as Starlink internet, tablets, smart TVs, electric fans and school supplies from the National Electrification Administration and FDC Misamis Power Corporation. 'This is digital bayanihan in action. Kapag kinokonekta natin ang mga paaralan, kinokonekta rin natin ang mga estudyante sa mas magandang kinabukasan,' said Angara. (This is digital bayanihan in action. When we connect schools, we also connect students to a better future.) DICT Secretary Henry Aguda reiterated the department's goal: to connect all public schools to the internet before the end of 2025. Through the Free Public Internet Access Program, Bayanihan SIM, and continuous infrastructure deployment, coupled with DepEd's digitalization efforts, the initiative seeks to close the digital divide and support learning across all regions. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos vows to continue providing internet connection in far-flung schools
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. vowed Thursday to continue the program ensuring internet connectivity among schools across the country, particularly those situated in far-flung and isolated areas. Marcos said this during his virtual interaction with teachers and students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) and remote schools. This happened during his visit to Flora Ylagan High School in Quezon City, together with Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda. ''Kailangan connected lalong-lalo na mga school. At kaya't mabuti nagkakaroon ng... dumadami na 'yung mga school natin na connected na. Kaya't ipagpapatuloy natin 'yung programang 'yan,'' Marcos said. (It's important that the schools are connected. The number of schools, which have internet connection, is increasing. We will continue that.) The initiative is reinforced by DICT's ongoing programs such as JuanSIM ng Bayan, the Free Public Internet Access Program, and its broader Digitalization agenda. On the other hand, the Department of Education is investing in infrastructure and digital tools to complement the connectivity drive. The following schools are among the first beneficiaries of the satellite-based internet under the joint efforts of the DICT and the DepEd: Tangalagan National High School in Apayao (CAR) Chanarian Elementary School in Batanes (Region II) Tibagan Elementary School in Bulacan (Region III) Caigdal National High School in Quezon (Region IV-A) Duyay Elementary School in Marinduque (Region IV-B) Lipata Integrated School in Bicol (Region V) Salamanca National High School in Cebu (Region VII) Nalil Elementary School in Tawi-Tawi (Region IX) Dalingap Elementary School in Misamis Occidental (Region X) Cabawa Elementary School in Surigao del Norte (Region XIII) In their virtual interaction with the President, the teachers expressed gratitude to the administration over the assistance that they are getting from the government. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DICT wants internet service costs down by as much as 50%
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking to bring down internet service provider (ISP) costs by as much as 50%, with the expected increase in competition and facility sharing. According to DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, the agency is looking to make internet in the country more affordable, as it targets to bring down ISP costs by 30% to 50%. 'Over time po 'yan (This will be over time). As technology becomes more advanced, the price per megabyte drops. As competition increases and as telcos become more efficient, the price will really drop,' he said during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Infrastructure Forum in Makati City. Aguda said competition is expected to increase with the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which has been ratified by both chambers of Congress and is now awaiting the President's signature. 'That's one, kasi darating na 'yung mga (because of the arrival of the) third-party providers that go straight to internet services, but we will harmonize it with the current telcos ngayon,' he said. Under the measure, new data transmission players are no longer required to secure a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), a move that removes key filters historically used to evaluate legal, financial, technical, and cybersecurity readiness. Sought for the timeline for the cost reduction, Aguda said that this should come before the end of the administration's term in 2028. 'Before pa dapat yan. Mahirap kasing i-pin it down. You need to mix the price together with the free services that they provide. Confident ako 'yung mga telco magco-compete na eh, so malamang bababa 'yan,' he said. (It should be before (2028). It is quite difficult to pin down. You need to mix the price together with the free services that they provide. I am confident that the telcos will compete, so this will come down.) Moving forward, Aguda said the DICT also targets to increase the government's free wifi access points to 50,000 in 2028 from 15,717 in 2024. 'We are not building just fiber or satellites. We're building a more just, informed, and inclusive republic,' he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DICT targets to create 8M digital jobs by 2028
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aims to generate 8 million digital jobs in the next three years. On Saturday, the DICT said it had launched the ''Trabahong Digital'' program, which seeks to expand internet connectivity across the country and equip Filipinos with digital skills. 'Driving the digital-first economy will maximize job opportunities and business growth through digital skills empowerment and by providing our people with the tools they need to succeed,' DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said. The DICT expressed confidence in achieving its job creation target by 2028, with the help of active partnerships with the government, academic institutions, and the private sector. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Michael V. to take legal action if deepfake creator continues deception
Michael V. will take legal action if the content creator behind the deepfake video that used his identity continues his deception. In Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, the Kapuso Comedy Genius said that he was alarmed by the video falsely showing him endorsing a product. "Alam ko kasi maraming mga netizens, maraming mga mahilig sa social media na baka maapektuhan in a negative way, baka maniwala," Bitoy said. "Titingnan natin kung ano gagawin niya kasi 'pagka persistent siya, 'pagka gumawa ulit siya ng aksyon at inulit niya, mukhang gagawan na namin ng legal action," he said. Other prominent personalities who have also recently fallen victim to deepfakes are Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales, Mariz Umali, and Dr. Gary Sy, who filed a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), citing the negative impact on his patients and his reputation as a doctor. "Natatakot ako na kapag may nangyari sa kanila, ay ako ang mabuntungan nila," Dr. Gary said. According to Roberto Tayag, CEO of Asia Pacific CyberQ Group, it is challenging for an unsuspecting viewer to immediately scrutinize a video they don't expect to be a deepfake. In response to the rising number of complaints from individuals deceived by fake endorsements, the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) said that they are already taking action against the spread of deepfake content. The department is in discussions with telecommunications companies and social media platforms to implement proactive measures to prevent such fake endorsements. "Ang tawag po doon sa mekanismo na iyon ay geo-blocking/geo locking. 'Yung same na mechanism po ng technology na 'yan 'yung sinasabi ko sa mga streaming platform at sa mga social media platform. Alam n'yo, kaya niyo namang i-prevent 'yan proactively eh," DICT secretary Henry Aguda said. —Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News
