Senator Grace Poe said government regulators and telecommunications companies (telcos) should boost their linkages to provide free wifi services to needy public schools.

For one, Poe said the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Education (DepEd) should work closely with the telcos to ensure that students even in the most remote schools can experience the fruits of connectivity.

“At a time when the education of our children relies on connectivity, access to the free internet is a crucial need that telcos can help provide,” Poe said during a recent Senate deliberation on the proposed 2024 national budget.

"What to telcos could be a drop in the bucket can go a long mile for the efficient learning of our students,” said the chairperson of the Senate public services committee.

During the Senate plenary discussion on the budget, lawmakers learned that only around 69 percent of the close to 45,000 public schools have access to Wifi, and at varying degrees.

Thus, Poe said it is unimaginable for a big population of students not to have access to wifi, more so, at a time when online education has become part of the new normal.

“Some may be able to spend a few pesos for wifi for their school works such as research, but how about the others who do not have the means?” Poe pointed out.

The lawmaker has urged the DepEd  to submit a report on the status of connectivity of public schools to determine the areas in need of internet access. 

Poe said any information would be crucial when she presents the DICT’s proposed budget for next year in plenary. 

“We believe telcos will always heed the challenge to do more for the worthwhile goal of inclusive, quality education,” the senator stressed.