Manila Teachers partylist Rep. Virgilio Lacson has sought the creation of internet hubs in every barangay to provide electronic gadgets and free internet access not only for students for their distance learning classes, but also for other residents who are seeking professional and career development.
The House leader filed House Bill No. 7398 or the proposed Barangay Internet Hubs Act to provide every citizen free internet to help them have access to learning, education, news and to help them in their professional and career development and enhancement.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to our students, learners, and professionals, with respect to their education and career development. Nowadays, internet connectivity has become an essential commodity in order for one to be updated and knowledgeable of the current events,” Lacson, chairperson of the House Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, said in his bill’s explanatory note.
HB 7398 provides the setting up of barangay internet hubs in every barangay that will provide electronic gadgets and internet access,such as , but not limited to WiFi, to be used for free.
Under the bill, the free use of electronic gadgets and internet access provided for by the barangay internet hubs shall be for the purposes of learning, work-related, and professional development and enhancement of its residents.
Those existing barangay learning hubs created by a barangay ordinance that provide free use of electronic gadgets and internet access shall also be considered as a barangay internet hub, the measure provides.
Lacson’s bill provides that the amount necessary for the effective implementation of the proposed Act shall be charged to the annual appropriations of the local government units (LGUs).
It tasks the Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act, within 90 days after its effectivity.