Gatchalian to investigate Free Wi-fi law implementation

By Javier J. Ismael, 17 May 2020, The Manila Times

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian has filed Senate Resolution 392, seeking a Senate inquiry on the implementation of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which aims to determine the law’s implementation coverage and effectivity in educational institutions. Gatchalian said that, as the lead implementing agency of the act, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has not been meeting its targets. In 2018, the DICT targeted to add 5,308 sites in 1,500 cities, but as of April 13, 2020, the list provided in the DICT website says there are only 3,707 live sites for free Wi-Fi hotspots across the country’s public spaces. “Mahalaga ang papel ng free Wi-Fi for all lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya kung saan inihahanda natin ang mga paaralan sampu ng mga estudyante at guro pati na lahat ng kawani ng sektor ng edukasyon pagdating ng pasukan. (The role of the Free Wi-Fi for All is crucial at this time of the pandemic as we have to prepare the schools, including the students, teachers and all the workers in the education sector for the opening of classes.),” Gatchalian said.