President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said his administration is working to ensure all schools in the country are connected to the internet by the end of the year.
From the Flora A. Ylagan High School in Quezon City, President Marcos presided over a teleconference with officials and teachers based in at least 10 schools located in far-flung areas.
“We’re working towards 100 percent connectivity by the end of the year,” said the President, who was with Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda in Quezon City.
For the teleconference, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara was at a school in Agusan del Norte, accompanied by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda.
Since the schools were located in hinterland villages, coastal barangays, and small islands, the officials and teachers participated in the teleconference via satellite-powered internet connection.
Angara said the Department of Energy and NEA were able to energize the school in the hinterlands of Agusan del Norte, paving the way for its internet connection.
That school serves primarily the indigenous peoples of the Higaonon tribe. It is about two hours away from Butuan City and can be reached by crossing two rivers, Angara said.
Almeda said that 295 “Last Mile Schools” will be energized within the year.
The “Last Mile Schools” refer to schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas where students often face extreme challenges due to a lack of electricity, water, internet access, and safe learning environments.
Meanwhile, an official from a school in the hinterlands of Makilala, North Cotabato, said they used to climb a mountain to get a data signal. Another official from an island in Dapa, Surigao del Norte, said they had to go to the coastline to connect to the internet.
The school official from Makilala said other residents drop by their school to use the internet connection.
“Natutuwa ako na hindi lang ‘yung estudyante natin ang naseserbisyuhan, nagagamit din yung wifi natin sa ibang mga bagay,” President Marcos said.
“Salamat. Sige ipagpapatuloy natin ang ating programa, malaki ang maitutulong sa inyo ng internet connection,” added the President. | PND
