In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to expand internet access nationwide, especially in remote areas, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is launching the Bayanihan SIM project, targeting teachers and students.

DICT Undersecretary Paul Joseph Mercado said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday that under the project, around one million SIM cards will be distributed to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

“Ang layon po natin ay marami ang digital infrastructure which is iyong tower sa iba’t ibang lugar especially doon sa ating mga GIDA areas. Ang gagamitin po natin dito ay cell signal ‘no kasi towers po ang gagamitin natin,” Mercado said.

The DICT partnered with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to implement a three-year targeted project aimed at providing connectivity to underserved areas in the country.

“With that one million SIM cards, may subscription po. Ang uunahin po naming bigyan ay ang mga estudyante at guro kasi ang purpose po nito ay ang ating education.”

The SIM cards, with a 25GB monthly allocation, will be distributed free of charge to students and teachers, the DICT official said.

Mercado said the DICT will identify the GIDA locations in coordination with the NEDA, which will be posted on the DICT website.

The project will commence at the end of the second quarter to the third quarter of this year, he said, adding that the terms of reference (TOR) and the distribution guidelines were already finalized.

The initiative is also part of the government’s thrust to entice telcos to invest in remote areas of the country, Mercado said.

“Kapag malayo iyong lugar at hindi financially viable for them (telcos), hindi sila pumupunta; hindi sila magtatayo ng infrastructure eh,” he explained.

“So, ang ginawa na po namin sa DICT, kami na po ang maunang magtayo doon. Kapag nagtayo kami doon, maipakita namin sa MNOs (mobile network operators), ‘Ay, may benta pala dito.’” | PND