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The Department of Information And Communications Technology (DICT) under Secretary Ivan John Uy has trumpeted the “remarkable” progress the agency has achieved in enhancing the Philippines’ digital infrastructure and services, particularly for underserved communities.

“Our ICT (information and communication technology) development index has seen a substantial increase reflecting our commitment to improving universal and meaningful connectivity to all Filipinos,” Uy told the House Committee on Appropriations during the deliberations on the DICT’s proposed budget for next year.

The DICT chief said the proportion of individuals using the Internet surged from 63.4 percent in 2023 to 75.2 percent in 2024. 

The proportion of households with Internet access, meanwhile, more than doubled from 38 percent last year to 76.9 percent in the current year.

According to Uy, growth indicators reveal that for every 10 percent in Internet penetration, there's a boost to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.38 percent. He said this adds approximately $6 billion, or about P336 billion, to the economy.

“The DICT’s efforts on digitalization and connectivity contributed to this dramatic rise, ensuring every Filipino household can access essential online services, education, and economic opportunities,” he added.

The department has primarily ushered this progress through the Free Wi-Fi program which, Uy said, aims to foster greater inclusivity and bridge the digital divide with even the most remote and underserved communities.

As of June 2024, the program has reached 13,462 access points, catering to 10 million unique users. It prioritizes communities in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy notes that the number of sites is significantly far from its original 2024 target of putting up 24,000 access points over the country.

Dy says the P2.5-billion allocation for the program is only enough for the maintenance of the existing sites for a period of five months.

If the agency would not be able to have higher appropriations for this, then it would further pursue the promotion of the common tower policy that was announced by President Marcos during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month.

“Right now, the DICT has a common tower policy but we are in the process of revising this, para mas maganda ‘yung rollout (so that the rollout is better). The ability to be able to nudge the behavior of the market so that they can also service the underserved, especially do’n sa mga missionary areas para ma-increase ‘yung (in missionary areas to increase the) Internet, we’re also promoting sharing of infrastructures para po bumaba ‘yung (in order to decrease) capitalization expense among telecommunication companies. And we already have studies about common poles, about common radio axis units,” explained Dy.

In the meantime, Dy says the DICT is intent on finalizing the sovereign national broadband program, which aims to improve Internet connectivity and ICT infrastructure of the country.