DICT plans to double number of free Wi-Fi sites in PH
By Sonny Daanoy
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday, Jan. 24 announced its plan to double the number of sites for the free Wi-Fi initiative this year.
The mentioned plan aligns with the DICT's "Broadband ng Masa" project, which aims to bridge the digital divide in the country.
"The plan is to double the number of free Wi-Fi, especially for the LGUs (Local Government Units) that require connectivity for the implementation of what is called e-LGU," DICT Undersecretary for e-Government David L. Almirol Jr. said in Presidential Communications Office (PCO) press conference.
The e-LGU initiative falls under the DICT's e-Governance (E-Gov) Super App to streamline the process of local government-related transactions for the benefit of the public.
"In fact, it's also part of the effort of the DICT, while the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), DICT, and ARTA (Anti-Red Tape Authority) are implementing e-LGU," Almirol said in a mix of English and Filipino.
"It needs to go hand in hand so that the efforts run in parallel," Almirol added.
According to the undersecretary, the DICT's free Wi-Fi project reached 25,000 sites before the end of 2023 and aims to double that number by 2024.
e-LGU
Meanwhile, Almirol emphasized that 799 LGUs are now capable of issuing business permits through the e-LGU system.
Additionally, 200 LGUs are utilizing this digital platform for issuing barangay clearances, while 100 LGUs are using it for issuing building permits, and 55 LGUs have already digitalized the issuance of work permits.
"We are not just increasing the collection for LGUs, but also creating citizen-centric and more streamlined processes for our citizens," he noted.
The e-LGU is the local government electronic system developed by the DICT, not only to streamline processes but also to make government-related transactions accessible even from home.
As of December 2023, the e-Gov Super App reached 964,775 total downloads.
As per the agency, it successfully gained partnerships with 43 national government agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) to promote interoperability in government ICT systems.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/11/e-gov-super-app-reaches-over-900-000-downloads